HOUSE OF LORDS.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1922, Page 5

HOUSE OF LORDS.

IRISH FUTURE DARK. NEAR EAST DANGERS. VISCOUNT GREY'S VIEWS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received November 24, 8.15 p.m. London, Nov. 23. In the House of Lords, Lord Erskine moved the Address-in-Reply. Speaking as one who opposed the late Government’s Irish policy, he hoped the Government would not allow the present condition of Ireland to go on indefinitely, and that if, after an adequate interval the Irish failed to repress murder and outrage, the Government would take the matter in hand firmly and re-establish law and order. He expressed sympathy with the unemployed, and hoped they would not be led astray by extremists. Viscount Grey said the situation in the Near East was menacing, and the only chance of getting through was by the Allies presenting a united front. The Government should go carefully into what commitments the Coalition Government had entered into with regard to Mesopotamia. It was only by strengthening the League of Nations that they could produce a feeling of security, enabling a reduction of expenditure on armaments. Viscount Grey said the future of Ireland was dark. He saw no hope, but Britain must abide by the treaty and leave Ireland to work out her own future.

He feared the British people did not realise .the present gravity of foreign, affairs, and he was not sure whether we had not already reached a point where Turkey, Russia and Germany were combining. The future of Britain depended enormously upon the manner in which the Government carried out its responsibilities in reference to the unemployed. Lord Birkenhead, referring to Labor’s election successes, said the efforts of all sane politicians ought to be directed against those who wanted to pull down the prop and pillar upon which our civilisation depended. That required all the resources of the new Government, whose main aims and hopes he intended to support. The address was carried.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.