DECLARATION OF WAR ISSUED IN BRITAIN.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 7057, 19 February 1910, Page 1

DECLARATION OF WAR ISSUED IN BRITAIN.

POLITICAL CRISIS A.CUTE IMPORTANT STATEMENT ISSUED BY LABOUR LEADERS. ANOTHER ELECTION NOW EXPECTED.

(By Telegraph.—Press Association. LONDON, February 18. i There are indications that the political crisis has now reached an acute stage. Six Cabinet meetings have been held within the week, and tho last one lasted for two hours, then being adjourned until late in the afternoon. The Prime Minister, Mr H. H. Asquitli, in tho interval, had a further audience with the King. Meanwhile, Mr T. P. O'Connor, one of the Nationalist leaders, was mediate ing between tho more extreme men and the Ministers. Ho interviewed tho Master of Elibank twice, and next conferred with Messrs John Redmond, leader of the Nationalist party, and Mr John Dillon. Then an apparent understanding, was reached. Subsequently Mr G. N. Barnes, chairman of the Labour party, after consulting with Mr Keir Hardie and other prominent colleagues, authorised the publication of the following state-* ment, embodying the Labour party's settled policy: Despite Mr Asquith's assertion in his speech on December, 10th at ; the Albert Hall that he would not hold office without assurances f rom. t \. .. : the King regarding the Lords' ' veto, which, moreover, was to' bo dealt with only after tho Budget, I know that that course will not be acceptable to the Labowr party. .■■■■■■ It implies that the powers thafc bo think that the recent electiooi was not sufficiently decisive in regard to the veto of the Lords;, and it. involves, therefore, another election before the Lords' question can bo settled. If the election must occur, we ought to have it as soon as possible. I am aware that the reply to all this is that the finances of the country must' be straightened.: I have already said that the responsibility for the confusion 'should be put on the. shoulders of: its authors. Doubtless the difficulties could be overcome by means of loans and otherwise.

—Received February 18, 10.10 p.m.) • " M'r Barnes's statement is considered as a, manifesto. His tone is distinctly unpleasant, but he forgets that the authors of the confusion he refers, to weio the Government. They introduced tho Budget, which tho Lords reEerred to the people, and the result ws;s such that the Budget cannot now be> passed. The Lords were justified in their action, and tho whole case ag;ainst them falls to tho ground."

HOW TO AVOID A CRISIS NATIONALISTS WANT VETO DEALT AVITH FIRST. " THE' ROBBERiY OF IRELAND." Mr T. P. O'Connor states that there will be no crisis if the Government is able to declare that the Veto Bill will become law despite the Lords' hostility. Nationalists, he says, are opposed to sending up the Budget before the -question of vcto= is dealt with,- inas- * much as it would be tantamount to I recognising tho Lords' right to accept !or reject, -thus restoring the very I power that the nation has declared the Lords must never again possess. I- In a letter to the North-cast Cork | League, Mr William O'Brien, Inde- ! pendent Nationalist, say 3 ho is sure | that they ■ are unmistakably attached to the policy which is already making the Radicalised Irish party pause before conniving at the robbery of Ireland through Mr Lloyd George's Budget.

Mr John Dillon, in a letter to the Kilkhagh branch of tho league, acknowledging a contribution to the Parliamentary fund, says that another eleotion may be.forced on Ireland before many weeks.

" The Times " Parliamentary correspondent says that some extreme Radicals are prepared to move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply regretting Mr Asquith's refraining from asking an assurance from the King.

WHAT MB ASQtTITH SAID. The statement made by the Prime Minister, and to which the cable message refers, was as follows : —"1 tell you quite plainly, and I tell my fellow countrymen outside, that neither I nor any of the Biberal Ministers, supported by a majority of the House of Commons, are going: to submit again to the rebuffs anid the humiliations of the last four years. We shall not assume office, and 'we shall not hold office, unless we can secure the safeguards which experience shows to be neoessary for the legislative utility and houour of the party of progress. '

SOME INTERPRETATIONS

GOVERNMENT BLAMED FOE ALL • THE CONFUSION. BTJDGET..OANNOT BE PASSED. The statement is interpreted by Liberals as a declaration of war on the Government unless the question of the Lords' veto is decisively <dealt with before progress with any other business is attempted. : In a leader, " The Times " says: