IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9786, 1 March 1910, Page 1

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

'DIFFERENCES IN THE CABINET.

THE FATEFUL DAY

t SPEECH BY MR DILLON

1 United Press Association —By Electric

Telegraph—Copyright,

/ LONDON, February 28. Several newspapers declare that it is §n open secret that there are acute iiferences of opinion in the Cabinet, especially concerning tactics. There are indications tlyit the plan now favoured is to split the attack on the House of Lords into two parts. The first is to decide by means of resolution the legislative abolition of the Lords right to reject a monev Bill, then at a . later date combine the limitation of the veto upon general legislation with reform of the House of Lords. The consensus of opinion is that todav will be fateful for the Government. . it is apparent that the Redmondites discuss Mr Asqnith's proposals. exclusively from the standpoint of how tar ! these will promote or indefinitely postnone Home Rule. Mr Dillon, speaking at Manchester, Aaunted the Liberal leaders with most nisastrous timidity. He declared that their majority was sufficient to carry a measure arising out of the dominant issue before the electorate, and described the words in the King s Speech, in the opinion of my advisors/' as unprecedented, inasmuch as they implied ihat the King did not share his advisfers' opinions, thus throwing away the Whole basio principle of the Constituj The parliamentary correspondent of She "Times" says that Mr Dillon s (speech is construed as a desire on the teart of the Nationalists to involve the Crown in the constitutional struggle, uid any such attempt might alienate liberal sympathisers.

* A LIBERAL MEMBER ON THE | SITUATION. I LONDON, February ii<3. [ Mr E. S. Montagu, in a speech to hi? 'jfonstituents, said that the result of the •general election, despite the revelation bf local loyalty, was a bitter disappointment to those anticipating that this (Parliament would terminate the veto. fit was quite certain that Parliament [had no mandate to reform the Lords, hit was equally certain that no Radical [would excuse an attack on the nereVlitary principle provided limitation of, Ifche veto was not delayed. Events had proved that the majority on which the *Government could rely was very small. He Nationalists were prepared to perWt or assist the return to office of a jparty hostile to any extension of selfjgovernment in Ireland. Under these circumstances an early general election Was inevitable. The Liberals' chance Say in submitting to the people at that flection both the principles and the details of their House of Lords scheme. | ' !