THE IRISH ATTITUDE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 14302, 23 February 1910, Page 7

THE IRISH ATTITUDE.

ALLIED WITH NO PARTY

WHY THE GOVERNMENT WAS SUPPORTED. (Received February 23, 12.15 a.m.) London, February 22. • Mr. John Redmond (Leader of the Irish party), who was listened to with absorbed attention, ' declared that the Nationalists were allied with no British party, and were prepared to accept the good government of Ireland from any party. They had supported the Government at the "elections heart and soul, believing that Mr.;> : Asquith's pledge regarding the abolition of the Lords' veto was tantamount to a ■ pledge to grant Home Rule. . He understood the Albert Hall speech

to mean that Mr. Asquith would not assume the responsibility of government unless he could rely on the Royal prerogative to enable him to pass the Veto Bill this year. Every Minister had repeated in substance that pledge. Mr. Lloyd-George had said the same thing at the National Liberal Club. It was all very fine for Mr. Asquith to say /now that he meant something else, but it was upon the value of this pledge in conjunction with Home Rule that they had supported the Government. The King's Speech was ambiguous. It suggested a scheme for altering the Lords' whole constitution. That was not what Ireland wanted: they wanted the veto limited. (Loud Nationalist and Labour cheers.) It was imperative that the Government's veto resolutions should immediately proceed. If the House of Commons approved, and the House of Lords rejected, the Government would then be in a position to ask the Sovereign for guarantees, and, if refused, free itself immediately from the responsibilities of government. " A financial crisis is a great weapon," continued Mr. Redmond. " You throw it away directly you pass the. Budget and trust to luck or another election to get the Veto Bill. We in Ireland are not going to throw away that weapon. "If the Budget is passed first, the Commons will settle down to a humdrum discussion of the veto, which it knows the Lords.will reject. An election follows, and the Government will be displaced by a wearied, disheartened electorate. Let Ministers give us assurances that they will carry the veto this year and the Nationalists will vote for the Budget. We are not going to pay this price for nothing. Don't let Mr. Asquith wait until kicked to his constituents by the Lords."

There was a dramatic silence when Mr. Redmond finished, and no speaker arose. Mr. Barnes (chairman .of the Labour party) hastily conferred with his colleagues, and then.moved the adjournment to enable Labour members to discuss the situation.: The House thereupon adjourned. The result of the Labour meeting will not be disclosed until Mr. Barnes speaks to-day.