Lord Rosebery's Address.

Temuka Leader, Issue 3834, 21 December 1901, Page 3

Lord Rosebery's Address.

London, Deo. 17. Lord Bosebery addressed a gathering of 5000 persons at Chesterfield, including prominent ex-Cabinet Ministers. He disclaimed any idea of solving the question of party unity, but said that he intended to speak his mind and offer dispassionate advice. The Liberal Party, free from the Irish alliance, ought to inscribe on a clean slate that the policy of 1902 was not the policy of 1892, and especially that the party did not dissociate itself from the new sentiment of the Empiro, which sentiment was not aggressive. Any statesman, however eminent, dissociating himself from that sentiment, must not be surprised if the nation dissociates itself from him. He emphasised the views he expressed in July. The watchword of the nation ought to be efficiency. He severely criticised the Government, and repelled the ; theory that there was not an alternative ' Government. Dissolution ought to be . decreed after peace had been secured. He denounced the prating about British war methods as barbarons, and vindicated the army. He condemned the Boer atrocities and upheld the proclamation of martial e law, and the stern, efficient prosecution of *■

the war, to be followed by a passive peace policy. He would listen to overtures emanating from Mr Kruger and the exiled Boer Government. The Boers were aware that their independence was gone. They were too shrewd to base their hopes on the crazy foundation of the utterances of a handful of people in Britain He was dead against the recall of Lord Milner. He fa/oured an amnesty compatible with safety; also a commission of rough and ready administrators of the Indian type to help Lord Milner. He would lavishly re-stock farms and grant immediate civil rights to Boers taking a drastic oath of allegiance, but would not immediately grant the new States representative government. He declared that his policy was not on party lines -. he was at the disposal of the country, and appealed to the tribunal of public opinion and common sense. Lord Rosebery was continuously cheered during his speech. Mr Ashquith and Sir Edward Grey were present, and unreservedly endorsed Lord Rosebery's views. The general opinion is that Lord Rosebery's brilliant speech strengthens the wnr policy. Its strong Imperial ring is much commented on. Dec. 18. Mr Ritchie, speaking at Kensington, said that Lord Rosebery had done a great service by his manly protest against the foul aspersions on. British humanity, and that his clear declaration was essential to the conditions of peace.