IMPORTANT SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXV, Issue 10521, 18 December 1901, Page 2

IMPORTANT SPEECH BY LORD ROSEBERY.

A Brilliant' Oration.

Suggests Dissolution after

Peace.

Supports Wan Policy.

But Favours an Amnesty.

Press Association — Telegraph — Copyright

Received December 18, 9.52 a.m.

LONDON, December 17. Lord Rosebery addressed a gathering of 5000 at Chesterfield, including prominent ex-Cabinet Ministers, and disclaimed any idea of solving the question of party unity, but intended to speak his mind and offer dispassionate advice to the Liberal Party, free "from the Irish alliance. They 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 disassociate itself with the new sentiment of the Empire, which sentiment was not aggresßive. Any statesman, however eminent, disassociating himself with that sentiment must not be Burprised if the nation disassociates itself from him. He emphasised the views he expressed in July that 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 was secured. He denounced the prating about the British war methods and barbarism, and vindicated the army. He condemned the Boer atrocities, upheld the proclamation of martial law, and a stern efficient prosecution of the war, to be followed by a passive policy of peace. He would listen to overtures emanating from Kruger and the exiled Boer Government. Tho Boers were aware that their independence had gone, and were too shrewd to base their other hopes on the crazy foundation of the utterances of a handful of people in Britain. He was dead against the recall of Lord Milner, and favoured an amnesty compatible with safety, also a commission of rough and ready administration of the Indian type to help Lord Milner. Uo would lavishly re-stock their farms and grant immediate civil rights to the j .Boers on their, taking a drastic oath of allegiance,- but -would not immediately grant 'the new States representative Government. He' declared ' his policy was not drawn up dn 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 Asquith and Sir Edward Grey, who were present, unreservedly endorsed Lord Rosebery's views.

It is the general opinion that Lord Rosebery's brilliant speech strengthens the war polioy. Its strong, Imperial ring was much commended.

The Times says it* rises with rare completeness to the level of a great occasion. - The Standard expresses disappointment at Lord Rosebery remaining stationary and not' supporting the Cabinet' in a whole-hearted manner. ' The Daily Chronicle is hopeful that the speech will do good all round. The 'Westminster Gazette says everybody finds something, nobody everything, they want in a speech. .The extreme Kadical- press is -bitter and cynical. v