IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 12566, 26 July 1905, Page 6

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

AN ANGRY OPPOSITION. CONSTITUTIONAL PRECEDENTS. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, July 25. In a crowded House Mr Balfour, in a speech lasting an hour, declared that the precedents on constitutional doctrine justified the Government’s decision not to accept the recent vote as a want of confidence. He especially relied on Mr Gladstone’s action from 1868 to 1874, and afao Lord Rosebery’s actSbn. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, in a heated speech, declared that Mr Balfour’s action was absolutely unconstitutional, since it was clear he had loot tbo confidence of the country.

At r John Redmond declared that it km the duty of all to make the Government’s existence impossible. The Nationalists would neither give nor take quarter. Mr Aaqnith and Sir Edward Grey concurred. Sir H. Campbell-Bannerman, Mr Winston Churchill, and Mr Lloyd-George violently assailed Mr Balfour, Mid contended the Prime Minister’s position was not met by constitutional precedents. To facilitate the debate, Sir A. H. Acland Hood (senior Whip) moved the adjournment of the House, on the understanding that Sir K. Greys censure motion was withdrawn. Ultimately the Opposition, fearing a .challenge to a. division, allowed the adjournment to be carried nem. con.. amid derisive Ministerial cheers. The ‘Daily News’ (R.) declares that the motion must make it impossible for the Government to continue in office.