AN AMAZING SCENE.

Colonist, Volume LIII, Issue 13168, 26 July 1911, Page 2

AN AMAZING SCENE.

MR ASQUITH HOWLED DOWN.

CRIES OF "TRAITOR."

THE SPEAKER POWERLESS,

[Pkesb Absooiation—Copyright.] (Received July 25, 9.30 p.mi) London, July 25, _ When the House of Commons assembled it was evident that the at» mosphere was electric, and there was a general hubbub while questions were being asked. The galleries were crowded, and many peers, diplomatists and Commoners, unable to find, seats^ tilted the gangways or stood at the Mr. Mr Redmond' was greeted with: ironical Unionist cheering. A few minutes later, when Mr Asquith entered the Liberals, Radicals, Redmondites and Labourites instantly rose and waved their order papers and cheered. There were Opposition counter cheers, mingled with cries of "Traitor" This demonstration had been carefully prepared, and generally paragraphed in the newspapers. It was evident that the .later disturbance was. due to a number 6f To'V; ies determining upon a, counter demonstration. When Mr Asquith arose to make his statement he was greeted with cries of "Patrick Ford!" causing fierce Liberal protests and cries of "Order." The Speaker called upon members to exercise self-control ami observe the ordinary courtesies of dobijtc. it „ Lord Hugh Cecil, sitting on tlve corner front bench ( below^ the jg&n'gway, shouted,- "Tliio 13 nob an ordinary occasion." ■ •..-. ■ Mr Asquith again rose, whereupon a group of Tories favouring a fighting policy headed by Lord Hugh Cecil, Mr E. A. Goukling, Lord Castlereagh, Mr R. A. Cooper, Mr H, Page-Croft, and :Mr Mitchell-Thomson, cried, "Traitor! Traitor!"1 Mr Asquith faced the House and tried to speak, but every time he opened his lips ho was greeted with "Traitor," and cries of "Patrick Ford," and "We will hear Redmond.

The Liberals counter cheered. Other Unionists pointed to Mr Redmond and called upon him to address the House. When the rowdyism w?iS at its height Mr Will Crooks shouted d«« vistvely from thfl Labour benches,: "The British aristocracy, the Patrick O'Brion Blue Book will toll."

For twenty minutes Mr .Asqiiith, continually advanced, to the table and resumed his seat. ... ; , ~,-■ ± Tho ( Sp.eaker, again arid again soughr, lio restore order. ■ 1 1 ... Mr F. E. Smith passionately declared that the Prime Minister had degraded the political life of the country. .;...._ .... ~. : .J : -. ,'".- iB . •^ Jiord Hugh GVilishonted\ quitll, y-oti aid absolutely unworthy ol your position."

The Speaker pointed out that the Opposition was in the minority and tllerofoi'6 mot'O concerned to maintain freedom of discussion: lie appealed to the House to be worthy of its hi»IJ thwlitioiiS;

. .Sir Asquith's again rising rcsultof} in a. paii-deinonqtratioiv uriecjuatleij s.".»fe, T tt'ft-l >«niP,JI ojiigofiq!,. flic' fioW ma at Miyh a pitch ot excitement that an. exchange., of .blows, seemed imminent, Mr Winston Churchill continually throwing .excited ejaculations towards the llmouist front bnnqh;i ■ i....- f ,-,~. ' M« A«-iuith seemed desirous of relinquishing the attempt, to. s Pea k, c but his colleagues persuaded him to con-

m *ul la"y Mr Asfi»itli was ablo to nistoiy of tlm Bill, and renalled the resolutions of February 1910, but &i statement that but for tho <Sk rf Edward m, BHI „•<s;( lLdtfc™ fee,* parsed n, 1910 aroused ai instaut storm There were angry"rie\ »ho killed the KingP" .. . . t.,S^n for. thi. ■, tho-*Pccc|i was pun'fr -oo«u to ,no. I merely declare that ii n-.F 0"^ of Lor(ls wi" not accept the Bill, with, if they like, reasonable amendments, the Government will bo compelled to invoke the Royal preroßa-

He then resumed his seat. The Lilienils sheered enthusiastically; lvaVing papers antl hats; for several mtitiites: . Mr Balfour,. wiio was heard in comparative silence, frankly regretted that Mi-Asquith had.no,t,beon,liqibonf.f| to, but he-said tho snhv>Wb r O nld lint fail to <?xoH: y |K>i3sidii,

inero were loud Unionist cheers "hen Mr Balfour recalled that Mr Churchill was the ringleader of tho disturbance in 1905, whereby Mr Lvttelton was kept standing nt the table t, ol' n|i "Our tillable to speak. Mr Ualiotii1 quoted Radical imwßpapei'B, which stated that Mi' Asquith had sec' tired pledges froi.n tlii" King before the general election. He said that; if that wei-e so J\lr AsquithI,had int'tirred censiirp Hy forging a. black ciie'ftiifl • lorii.thts Sdvfcrelgn. He had arrogated to himself powers that ho republican dictator would have possessed. ~ A memlwr interjected: "Then you've llpoli UptJ."

Mr Balfour replied: ,"Trho, if iljo hon member means that it never entered my head that a Minister of tlio Crown could give such advice." Proceeding he said the Premier had asked them to discuss the Bill knowing, alt the time, that they wore not; - frqh agents, hut liCjhad advised the Sovereign to make lv mriri aljsolute dictator,' Me Asqmth responded: "t was g'fling to give a reasoned argument of my grounds for that advice, but I am not allowed." Mr Balfour admitted this. He believed Mr Asquith's action was due to introduce discord at the Coronation, boon a cruel trial for the Sovereign to intrduco discord at the Coronation. Ho concluded by saying that the real heroes of the campaign were the Irishmen, their decree being obsequiously obeyed. Sir Edward Grey protested against tho Opposition's refusal to hear Mr Asquith and moved the adjournment. Mr F. E. Smith followed.