IMPERIAL POLITICS. SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH. LONDON, October 12.

Otago Witness, Issue 2692, 18 October 1905, Page 27

IMPERIAL POLITICS. SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH. LONDON, October 12.

Mr Asquith, speaking at Earls Ferry, said that it was not the Liberals, but tho Balfour Government, who would muzz! the Colonial Conference, because they must tell colonies that the Motherland was powerless until the electorates had spoken, and an appeal to the electorates was at present inconvenient. The Conference might fruitlessly discuss Imperial defence, Imperial communications, emigration, an Imperial Court of Appeal, and the establishment of a permanent consultative body to discuss and settle topics of Imperial interest. Mr Asquith declared that Horns Rule (as meaning a legislature in Dublin) will not and cannot be any part of the policy of the next Liberal Government, but lie adhered to the spirit and aims of Mr Gladstone's policy, in which he believ.ed ; subject always to the paramount control of the Imperial Government. In fact, the gradual association of the Irish people itt . the management of their own affairs would ■ be a step in the aim and ideal of the Liberal policy in regard to Ireland. He declined to answer a question whether he would take office in a Government who would be dependent on the Irish Nationalists. October 13. Mr Aequith, in a speech at leven, said the dominating issue at the next election would be Freetrade or Protection. October 15. The bye-election for the vacancy in th» Barkston Ash Division of Yorkshire caused by the death of Colonel Sir Robert Gunter, resulted in Mr Andrews, the Liberal candidate, being returned with 5376 votes. Mr Lane-Fox, the Conservative candidate, polled 4143. [Barkston Ash has always been regarded as a safe Conservative seat-. Colonel Gunter was returned unopposed in 1900.] The Marquis of Ripon, speaking at Liverpool, declared that the projected Colonial Conference was a scandalous- attempt to use the colonial representatives for electioneering purposes. What would* happen if the Mr Seddon were found dancing on the stomachs of the Government on the &übj,ect of Chinese labour? - ■ Sir Edward Grey, iiy a speech at Maa| Chester, said that if the Liberals were returned to, office they would enter into no - engagements inconsistent with or prejudicial to the Anglo- Japanese Treaty or the entente with France.