BRITISH POLITICS.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13635, 19 February 1908, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS.

• 1 «m _ — •- the agreement with russia. an Objection withdrawn. By Eleotrio: Telegraph.— Copyright. LONDON, February 18; lid the House of Commons Earl Percy moved that while welcoming the principle of the Anglo-Russian Convention, the House* .considered the terms involved a material sacrifice' of British interests/ and left room, for international misunderstanding. Sir Edwarw Gfrey, Foreign Secretary, in a masterly reply, declare^ that tfte. agreement was made for the peace of the world which was now more secure. 1 He denied that Britain would sacrifice great cdmmercial prospects in Persia. He admitted that strategic) considerations had been paramount with the Government. Danger- to India through Persia was now very remote. He explained in regard to making provision respecting the Persian of ttie Gulf, thatjn future probably the Mesopotamian side of the Gulf would be ■more \ important. The right of the Ameer to, develop Afghanistan as he pleased was not restricted. The Bri-, tish in Thibet remained unaltered. , Mr A. J. Balfour, ex-Premier, declared that' the Government had not scored a great success, though he admitted it would be a strategic gain if the agreement prevented Russian Turkestan becoming a base for attacking India. ' . The Right Hon. John Morley, Secretary of State for India, (described the' Convention as a most momentous instrument in connection with the defence of. India.. - -- . The motion eventually was withdrawn. THE PREMIERSHIP. SIR H. , CAMPBELL-BAJtfNERMAitf ADVISED TO RETIRE. LONDON, February 18, The Times declares that Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman is physically unr able to bear the strain of the session, and that he had better accept a peerage. At present it isundeeirablbe that there should. be a duality of command in the House of Commons. This would be unfair, as well, to the Riglrt Hon. H. H. Asquith, Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, while ■artually > leading, is overshadowed by Sir Henry Camp-bell-Bannerman. f