LATER.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3370, 12 October 1896, Page 2

LATER.

At Lord Rosebery's public meeting there was an immense gathering, and the speaker received a great ovation.

Among those on the platform were Mr Asquith, late Home Secretory ; Mr Bryce, ex-President of the Board of Trade ; Mr Fowler, ex- Secretary of State for India ; Mr Arnold Morley, ex-Postmaster-General ; and Mr John B. Balfour, ex-Lord Advocate for Scotland, besides many Liberal members of the House of Commons

His Lordship delivered a powerful speech, which was received with great enthusiasm. Referring to the Eastern question, he warmly remarked that the matter of reform of Aruenia needed guidance, not stimulus, and he passed unmeasurable censure on the Sultan and ruffianly Kurds. The remedy, he said, whatever shape it was to take, must cover the entire Eastern question. Many of the suggested remedies were futile, and to his mind dangerous, and he disagreed with all those proposed by Mr Gladstone. The suggested deposition of the Sultan was illusory, and to recall the British Ambassador would be unwise. That would be a great affront, and be a help in the drift to war. It would be useless to threaten the Sultan and then withdraw from the position. He dis-

couraged the transfer of Turkey to Russia, but was willing to surrender Cyprus to anyone except Turkey, if it was likely to secure concerted action in settling the difficulty. He combatted the opinion that the Powers were determined to fight if Great Britain acted alone, and at the same time he doubted whether the colonies were enthused with the war spirit. The Armenians more probably were like the Americans, and would prefer diplomacy in redress of their grievances. Concerted action was, he said, the only panacea for the Eastern question, and it was impossible to long postpone action. The House of Peers was impatient in the matter, but was averse to taking action unless vigorously supported inside and outside Parliament. To Mr Gladstone he gave a coup de grace because he never desired to appear in a sharp conflict with his venerated friend. He said he had received a long and affectionate letter from Mr Gladstone on the matter, and in concluding thanked his colleagues with whom he had been associated in the leadership of the party. He specially mentioned Mr Asquith, and the latter in reply said Lord Rosebery had supreme claims to the leadership, and was the only successor to Mr liladstone.

A vote of confidence was passed, and his Lordship was asked to reconsider his decision.

Lord Rosebery said he had resigned after mature reflection, and he considered the step necessary.

The speech is considered as likely to seriously embarrass Sir W. V. Harcourt's position.

Lord Rosebery, in referring to reforms in Armenia, was received with great enthusiasm.