DISCUSSION IN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7370, 23 January 1902, Page 2

DISCUSSION IN IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

MR BALFOUR DISGUSTED.

SIR W. V. HARCOURT'S REPLY.

Received January 23, 0.30 a.m.

London, January 22. In the House of Commons, the Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, First Lord of the Treasury, said he was disgusted at the attacks on the War Office, whose administrative performance was unequalled in the history of the Empire. He attributed the extraordinary dulness of debate to Mr Chamberlain's speech knocking everybody out of time. He bantered Sir W. V. Harconrt, devoting three-fourths of his speech to proving Sir William was tied to Lord Rosebery'a chariot ■ wheels. Unconditional surrender only meant so far as political arrangements, involving the incorporation of the ex • republics, were concerned. There must be surrender of some kind. Peace was delayed because Britain refused the Boers independence. He appealed to the Opposition to abstain from parade fights calculated to encourage the Boers to prolong the war in the hope that the Government would be displaced. Sir Henry Campbell - Bannerman, Leader of tbe Opposition, said tbe devastation and political blunder of the concentration camps waa an effence against civilisation — a military mistake and political disaster. He urged generous and magnanimous peace proposals. Received January 23, 1.20 a.m.

London, January 22. Mr Cawley's amendment was negatived by an overwhelming majority. The Nationalists, a few extreme Radicals, Messrs Lloyd-George and Labouchere, abstained from voting. The minority included Sir H. CampbellBannertnan, Sir W. V. Harcourt, and Messrs John Morley, Bryce, and Fowler. The Liberal Imperialists abstained from taking part in the debate, on the ground that Mr Chamberlain's speech left no wide divergence of principle. Sir Edward Grey, Messrs Haldane, R. C. Miinro, and others did not vote, and Mr Asquith was ill. Sir W. V. Harcourt, in the course of a speech, said it was impious to insist on an unconditional surrender. The Government policy gave no promise of a durable poaee. He denounced the proclamation of martial law and the suspension of the Cape Constitution.

SENTENCES REDUCED.

Received January 23, 9.10 a.m.

London, January 22. The sentences passed upon Lieut. Botha and others belonging to one of the Cape district mounted corps, for misbehaviour and cowardice in surrendering at Doornbosch in October have been reduced — Botha's to one year's imprisonment and the others to lesser periods.