IMPERIAL POLITICS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2740, 19 February 1910, Page 5

IMPERIAL POLITICS.

SIB. O’BRIEN’S SEAT

United Press association—Copyright

LONDON, Eeb. 17

Mr. O’Brien lias decided to sit for Cork City. It is expected anO’Brienite will be elected for the north-east, for which Mr. O’Brien was also elected.

AN ACUTE CRISIS. REVOLT OF THE LABOR PARTY. (Received February 18, 9.45 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 18. There are indications that the crisis lias reached an acute stage. Six Cabinet meetings have been held within a week. One lasted two hours, and was adjourned until late in the afternoon. Mr. Asquith, in the interval, had a further audience with the King. Meanwhile Mr. O’Connor is mediating between the more extreme men and the Minister. He interviewed the Master ■of Elibank twice, and next conferred with Messrs Redmond and Dillon. Then an apparent understanding was reached.

DECLARATION BY THE LABOR PARTY.

Subsequently ‘jMr. G. N. Barnes, -chairman of the Labor party, after consulting Mr. Keir Hardie and other .prominent colleagues, authorised the following statement as embodying the Labor party’s settled policy: “Despite his Albert Hall speech, Mr Asquith holds office without assurances from the King regarding the Lords’ veto, which, moreover, will be dealt with only after the Budget. I know that that course will not be acceptable to the Labor party. It implies that the powers that be think that the election was not sufficiently decisive.as regards the vet-o. It involves, therefore, another election before the Lords’ question is settled. If an election must occur, we ought to have it as soon as possible. I am aware that the reply to all this is that the finance® jof the -country must be straightened. 'I said that the responsibility for the confusion should be put on its authors. Doubtless the difficulties would he overcome by loan and otherwise.” The Liberals interpret Mr. Barnes’ statement as a declaration of war on the Government unless the House of Lords question is decisively dealt with before the progress of any other business is attempted.

A NATIONALIST PRONOUNCEMENT.

(Received February 18, 10.10 p.m.)

Mr. O’Connor states that there will be no crisis if the Government is able to declare that a Veto Bill will become law, despite the Lords’ hostility, The Nationalists, he says, ore opposed to sending up the Budget before the veto is dealt with, inasmuch as that would be tantamount to Tecognising the Lords’ right to accept or reject it, thus restoring the very power which the nation has declared that trie Lords shall never again possess.

MR. O’BRIEN ON THE BUDGET—“ROBBERY ~DF IRELAND.”

Mr. O’Brien, in a letter to the North-east. Cork League, says that he is sure that they are uns-hakably attached to the policy which is already making the Radicalised' Irish party pause before conniving at the robbery of Ireland through Mr. Lloyd-George’s Budget.

Mr. Dillon, an a letter to the Kilkhagh branch of the League, acknowledging a contribution to the Parliamentary fund, says that another election may be forced on Ireland before many weeks.

PROBABLE AMENDMENT BY RADICALS.

The “Times” Parliamentary correspondent say s that some extreme Radicals are prepared to move an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting Mr. Asquith’s not asking an assurance from the Kins. THE “TIMES’ ” PERTINENT COMMENTS.

The “Times,” in a leader, says that Mr. Barnes’ statement is considered a manifesto. His tone is distinctly unpleasant, but he forgets (that the authors of the confusion were the Go-

vernment. They introduced the Budget, which the Lords referred to the people, and the. result is such, that the Budget cannot now be passed. The Lords were justified, and the whole •case againnt them falls to the ground.