ULTIMATUM TO THE PEERS

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13435, 24 July 1911, Page 5

ULTIMATUM TO THE PEERS

GIVEN A WEEK TO PASS THE BILL OTHERWISE NEW PEERS WILL BE CREATED. Press Association.—Telegraph.—Copyright. LONDON, July 22. According to present intentions, Mr. Asquith will on Monday move the postponement of the debate on the Veto Bill in order to 1 consider the amendment of the House of Lords, One week is to be given to enable Unionist peers to guarantee that the Bill will pass as transmitted from the House of Commons, or the Government will specially create new peers. PRESS COMMENTS. LONDON, July 22. The Daily Nows declares that the Parliament Bill is a decisive defeat of the oligarchy’s attempt to win back more than the ground lost since 1832. The Morning Post says that once the Government obtains the surrender, their triumph over the whole field of politics will bo complete. Capitulation means the utter ruin of the Unionist party. The Chronicle says that Mr Asquith’s remarkable announcement regarding the Veto Bill is due to the revolt of wild peers. Lord Lansdowno . showed the Unionist loaders that they should cease their opposition ; when they ceased they would be free agents. The letter had been made public thus early in order that the Tory poors might know betimes that they are no longer free agents. MR- ASQUITH S COUP D’ETAT. The Times Angry. LONDON, July 22. The Times, in a leading article headed “Mr. Asquith’s Coup d’Etat,” denounces the Government’s brusque ultimatum as the most violent of alternatives, unconstitutional, unjustifiable and unprecedented. The paper adds: The King is not constitutionally compelled to accept the advice of his Ministers, but be is compelled to find someone who will carry on the administration. Mr. Balfour’s acceptance of this task would involve a fruitless dissolution. The King therefore has no real choice but to accept Air. Asquith’s advice. Air. Asquith, however, toes the lino at Air. Redmond’s bidding, but Nemesis assuredly awaits him when lie attempts to satisfy the impossible demands of his Irish masters. DISSENTIENT UNIONISTS. Received Julv 24. 8.5 a.m. LONDON, July 23. Dissentient Unionists are organising a public dinner to Lord Halsbury on Wednesday, in recognition of his determination to insist on the amendments as a last safeguard to the constitution. Lord Selbourno presides. Alessrs. Austen Chamberlain, Lords Hugh Cecil, Debroko and Lovat, the Marquis of Salisbury, the Right Hon. George Wyndhain, Sir Edward Carson, and Air. W. H. Smith are supporting a fighting policy. FURTHER PRESS VIEWS. "The Ignominy of Surrender.” Received July 24, 9,5 a.m. LONDON, July 23. The Standard, Globe, Pall Mall Gazette, and Sheffield Telegraph strongly urged a righting policy. Tlie Graphic, Glasgow Herald, Western Morning News, Liverpool Courier, and Yorkshire Post deprecate dying in the last ditch The Observer says that surrender would demoralise the whole Unionist organisation of the country, and destroy all faith in the leadership and prospects. The Observer states that Mr Joseph Chamberlain advises the Unionists tc fight to the end. The Spectator insists that it would be deplorable to force the Government to create 400 peers, and that dissolution would mean ruin to the Unionists.

Sir Edward Carson, on behalf of the Irish Unionist Commoners, informed Lord Landsdowne that the disgrace and igno miny of surrender would far outweigh the temporary advantage of two years’ delay to Home Rule.