DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8249, 23 February 1905, Page 1

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS.

•TR ANTHONY MACDONNELL. LONDON, February 22. The debate on Mr Redmond's amendment was resumed in the House of Commons. In response to a Unionist's question, .Whether his programme included Home Eule, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman declared that he had always supported ftnd always would, a fundamental alteration of tho system of Irish Governtaent. He added that the Cabinet was dissatisfied with the situation, inasmuch as it assented to the appointment oi Sir Anthony MacDonnell, rather as fc colleague than as Under Secretary, brdering him to go beyond the functions of an ordinary civil servant. When he did so, his action became blameworthy. He took soundings on behalf bf the Government among Unionists, to ascertain the extent it was desirable to go. If he was blameable, the Viceroy and Mr Wyndham also "Vere blamefcble. Mr Balfour replied that, when the Chief Secretary was in the Cabinet, the Viceroy was noi responsible for the Government of Ireland. It W;AS true that JiJarl Dudley discussed the matter with Bir Anthony MacDonnell, for he understood from Sir Anthony .MacDonnell, that Mr Wyndham was aware what .was occurring, and he believed erroneously that Mr Wyndham had been acquainted with the project. Mr Balfour (continued amid cries of "Produce the fcorrespondence." He ridiculed the motion. Sir Anthony MacDonnell had been given authority outside his office to initiate policies, whereon Mr Wyndham land the Government had not been consulted. He defended Mr Wyndham lagainst the discreditable charge of concealing the truth concerning communications between Sir A. MacDonnell and Lord Dunraven, and reminded the Irish Unionists that Home Rule was neither dead no^r swooning. A feature of the debate was one of Mr Healy's finest orations, denouncing the policy of the Irish Unionists, and pleading conciliatory methods. Replying to Lord Hugh Cecil's remark that he did not know what nationality was, Mr Healy exclaimed, "I tell him it is something you are willing to die for. ™^jC6h' a Cecil would not die for the meridian of Greenwich." He concluded by demanding for Ireland self government, the same as that to be conceded to the Boers in a few years. The amendment was negatived by 886 to 236. Several Irish and a few English Unionists abstained from voting.