EARL GREY.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVI, Issue XLVI, 4 March 1914, Page 4

EARL GREY.

INTERVIEWED ON IMPERIAL POLITICS.

mt DUNEDIN, March 2. The Right Hon. Earl Grey was invited by Press interviewers to express his opinion on the Home Rule question, and, in reply, he said: "I suppose that you really know as much about it as I do. When I left England I had hoped that the leaders of the parties (Mr Asquith and Mr Bonar Law) might have arrived at some basis of settlement by general consent on both the Irish and the House of Lords questions The opinion of the Unionist leaders which was announced—or, I might say' expressed-by Mr Austin Chamberlain and Lord Lansdowne, that they were prepared to consider the Federal solution, appeared to me to be the first step towards a settlement. 'Sir Edward Carson had also announced that he was prepared to consider any plans based upon the principles of equitable political treatment for every part of the United Kingdom. This means a plan of Home Rule all round. I do not know why Mr Asquith has not taken advantage ©f the readiness oi the Unionists to settle on this basis. The alternatives appear to be a settlement by general consent, or else dissolution before the Home Rule Bill becomes law, and civil warfare begins.

THE BEST SOLUTION

' 'The hrst alternative is obviously the one to ue desired. iou cannot settle great constitutional problems by force, -and against the will, as the Unionists believe, of a majority of tne electors. Great constitutional questions should be settled by general consent on the lines acceptable to the overwhelming majority of reasonable men on botn sides lhe Ministerial measure which Mr Asquithand ? his colleagues have advocated j as a stepping stone towards the Federal plan might have been withdrawn as soon us the Unionists' leaders had professed their desire to settle on the Federal basis; This should have more than convinced Mr Asquith of the Unionists' desire for ai settlement. Why .this' most desirable arrangement has not been arrived at I cannot say. Perhaps it is due to want of trust between the leaders or a feeling of obligation to Mr Redmond, whose jSupport has enabled Mr Asquith to continue in office for so long." Asked what his opinion was as to the D^iltn^ c of Ulster towards the present Bill, his Lordship said: "I cannot understand how men of Liberal traditions could ever have thought that the prej sent Bill might have been accepted by Ulster. It robs them of their Liberties, and many symDathisers are wholly and entirely with them in their resolve to maintain these." Asked whether, in the event of Ulster being excluded from the operation of the Bill, would it be passed, Earl Grey said: "It may go through, but I don't think that it will work. It is based upon a wrong principle—namely, on the recognition that it will end the rights of a separate nationality, and is entitled, by reason of this separate nationality, to a statue which cannot be conferred upon other parts of the kingdom. This~ Bill if passed, will naturally be a steppingstone towards other.trouble. Moreover, I never have been able to understand that the present Bill could be amended in sucE a way as to exclude Ulster. The only solution, I repeat, is the withdrawal of the Bill,, and to go for the Federal plan."

THE BLOW AT THE HOUSE OF ' LORDS.

Asked for his reasons for saying that m his opinion, the House of Lords question should be settled by general consent, His Lordship replied. "W«ell, you see, the Federal plan involves th» necessity of creating a strong Second Chamber. I regard that as moat vital, not only to us at Home, but to you New Zealanders. Remember that the Ulster men have been accustomed to look to the House, of Lords to protect them in the' enjoyment of their liberties. Now that the House of Lords has no longer the power to appeal to the Government to allow the people to express their opinion on a question that directly concerns them, the Ulster men have no security against any injustice done to them by an unbalanced Single Chamber which we do not believe faithfully represents the people, and which has no check or safeguard, and against whose excess there-is ho constitutional check or safeguard except the veto of the King. The necessity of having a; strong Second Chamber also affects you New Zealanders. Remember that the Empire has in the past been governed by a Parliament consisting of Lords and Commons, *nd they have been the guardians and trustees of the great Imperial inheritance with which you are concerned, and into which one <_ay you will enter. The; Parliament Act has destroyed the character of tius guardian and trustee, and the. whole destiny of the Empire is how in the hands of a single uncontrolled Chamber. This, both from a New Zealand and a high Imperial point of view, is a most serious danger, and cannot be remedied too soon. It is because the Federal

solution involves the creation of a strong Second Chamber that it fias not proved acceptable to those to whom it has been propoßed'.,'>

WILL THERE BE CIVIL WAR ?

"You say," His Lordship was asked, "that if the alternative of settlement

by consent is. not availed of,, the only two alternatives that remain, are dis-

solution before the Bill becomes law or civil war. Do you believe that Ulster will really fight?" Earl Grey: "I do not only believe it, but I am certain of it, andl I should think that they have the spirit of slaves if they do -not. I do not believe that the people of, England thoroughly appreciate the danger of the situation, and I am convinced that,, as soon^ as they do so> public opinion will insist on a dissolution before the Bill becomes law."

Is there any truth in the reports that the officers are threatening* to resign their positions if tbe Home' Rule Bill becomes law?

Earl Grey: "Sir Edward Carson's pockets have been scuffed wit& letters from officers resigning their commissions, but he has told them that their duties were to obey the orders of the Crown, that Ulster has just cause to fight, and that Ulstermen are prepared to make any sacrifice for that cause, but there is one sacrifice that he is: mot! prepared to make, and that is to en-) courage sedition in His Majesty's i Army. My opinion is that Sir Edward < Carson has not made a single .mistake. ! Although Ulstermeni have been threat- \ ened with the, withdrawal of their lib-! erties his hands have kept the peace. I * believe tnat his-action will' lead to a| settlement of the Irish question which will be by genera? conseat. The Irish \ are a most loveable and generous peo- i pie, and the present state of affairs is j a standing blot on the fair fame of; England. I repeat that ■ there is now an opportunity given to settle this matter on federal lines, and unless Mr Asquith is too far indebted to Mr Redmond, there is hope that statesmanship ■ will prevail, and that we may be on the eve of a settlement of the whole ' question which will bring contentment i and prosperity to Ireland, and increased strength." '