THE VETO GRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3278, 25 July 1911, Page 5

THE VETO GRISIS.

“DISSOLUTION WOULD RUIN THE UNIONISTS.” FIGHTING POLICY URGED. “DISGRACE AND IGNOMINY OF SURRENDER.” [UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION--COPYRIGHT. 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 the last safeguard of the constitution. Lord Selbourne presides. Mr. Austen Chamberlain, Lord Hugh Cecil, Baron Willoughby de Broke, Baron Lovat, Lord Salisbury, Mr. Wyndham, Sir E. H. Carson, and Mr. W. Smith are supporting a fighting policy. The Standard, Globe, Pall Mall Gazette, and Sheffield Telegraph are strongly urging a fighting policy. The Graphic, Glasgow Herald, Western Morning News, Liverpool Courier, and Yorkshire Post deprecate dying in the last ditch. The Observer says that a surrender would demoralise the whole Unionist organisation in the country, and destroy all faith in its leadership and prospects. The Observer states that Mr. Joseph Chamberlain advises a fight to the end. The Spectator insists that it would be deplorable to force the Government to create 400 peers, and that a dissolution would mean ruin to the Unionists. Sir E. H. Carson (Conservative member for Dublin University), on behalf of Irish Unionist members of the House of Commons, informed Lord Lansdowne that the disgrace and ignominy of surrender would far outweigh the temporary advantage of two years’ delay to Home Rule.

BREATHING SPACE AFFORDED. UNIONIST POLICY EAGERLY AWAITED. WILL THE PEERS GIVE WAY? (Received July 24, 10.45 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. It is understood that Mr Asquith will adjourn the consideration of the Lords’ amendments to the Veto Bill for a week in order to give time to secure assurances that the Bill will pass unamended. Two thousand people have applied, for tickets for Mr Balfour’s speech to his constituents at the Camion Street Hotel to-morrow. The declaration of the Unionist policy is eagerly awaited. The “Daily Mail” says there is nothing to be gained by further opposition. The “Chronicle” hopes that the Bill will pass without the creation of new peers. Nationalist newspapers in Dublin applaud Mr. Asquith’s “couji d’etat.” Tlie “Dublin Times” and the “Irish Times” believe that the L-ords should yield to force. Ulster Unionist, papers favor a fighting policy. Lord Charles Beresford. in a letter to the newspapers, declares that Mr. Asquith’s letter has temporarily demoralised the Unionists, and the. forcing of the exercise of the Royal prerogative must result in the paralysis of the party’s fighting strength. He added: “The Duke of Wellington, in- the face of a superior force, retired into winter quarters.”

“RESISTANCE IS FUTILE.” LETTER FROM LORD CURZOX. (Received July 24. 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. Lord Curzon, in a letter to the “Times,” contraverts the assertion that unless the Unionists force the creation of peers they will be convicted of “craven and despicable surrender.” He adds:— ‘‘There would be no surrender In refraining from pressing resistance when that resistance is futile. A year or two hence, the very men who are now shouting loudly will be denouncing the strategy which robbed its Unionists of their opportunity for effective resistance. Mr. Balfour heartily concurs with Lord Lansdowne’s advice to the peers, and the great majority of Unionists support It.”