THE VETO CRISIS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3279, 26 July 1911, Page 5

THE VETO CRISIS.

TORY LEADERS VISIT THE KINC.

DISORDER IN PARLIAMENT.

SPEAKER ADJOURNS THE HOUSE

[UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —COPYRIGHT. LONDON, July 25. Mr. Balfour and Lord Lansdowne have visited the King. When Mr. Asquith rose in the House of Commons he was frequently interrupted. He declared that unless the Lords consented to restore the Parliament Bill with reasonable amendments consistent with its main principles the Government would be compelled to exercise the Crown’s prerogative. The House of Commons at first refused to hear Mr. Asquith, and then declined to listen to Mr. Smith. Amidst a scene of disorder, the Speaker adjourned the House.

AN ELECTRIGAL ATMOSPHERE.

PREMIER’S “WARM” RECEPTION.

GREETED WITH CRIES OF “TRAITOR.”

(Received July 25, 11.10 p.m.)

LONDON, July 25

When the House of Commons assembled it was evident that the atmosphere was electrical, and there was a general hubbub while questions were being asked. Tho galleries were crowded with many peers and diplomatists. Members of the House who were unable to find seats filled the gangways and stood at the bar. Mr. Redmond was greeted with ironical Unionist cheering. A few minutes later Mr. Asquith entered, and the Liberals, Radicals, Redmondites, and Labcrites instantly rose, waved their order papers, and cheered. The Opposition gave counter cheers, which were mingled with cries of “Traitor.” This demonstration had been carefully prepared and generally paragraphed in the newspapers. It was evident that the latter disturbance was due to a number of Tories determining to counter any demonstration. When Mr. Asquith arose to make a statement, he was greeted with cries of “Patrick Ford,” this causing fierce Liberal protests, and loud cries of “Order.” The Speaker called upon members to exercise self-control, and observe the ordinary courtesies of debate. Lord * Hugh Cecil, sitting in the corner’ of the front bench below the gangway, shouted out: “This is not an ordinary occasion.” Mr. Asquith again rose, and a group of Tories favouring a fighting policy, and headed by Lord Hugh Cecil, Mr. Goulding, Viscount Castlereagh. Messrs Cooper, Paget, Mitchell, and Thomson-, cried “Traitor,” “Traitor to the Commons.”

ROWDYISM AT IT’S HEIGHT.

SPEAKER’S VAIN APPEALS

“ASQUITH, YOU ARE IN-

WORTUV

Air. Asquith entered the House and tried to speak hut every time he opened his lips he was greeted with cries of “Traitor” and cries of “Patrick Ford,” “We will hear Redmond first.”

The Liberals counter cheered, but other Unionists pointed to Mi*. Redmond, and called upon him to address the House.

When the rowdyism was at its height Air. Will Crooks shouted derisively from the Laho-r benches: “The British aristocracy!” Air. Patrick O’Brien: “Blue blood will tell for twenty minutes.”

Air. Asquith continually advanced to the table, but was compelled to resume his seat.

The Speaker again and again sought to restore order.

Mr. E. E. Smith passionately declared that the Prime Alinister had degraded the political life of the country. Lord Hugh Cecil shouted: “Asquith, you are absolutely unworthy of your position.” The Speaker p-ointod out that the Opposition was in the- minority, and were therefore more concerned to maintain freedom of discussion. He appealed to the House to he worthy of its high traditions. Air Asquith’s next rising resulted in a pandemonium which has not been equalled since the “Parnell episode. The House was at such a of excitement that an exchange of blows seemed imminent, Mr. Churchill continually throwing excited ejaculations towards the "Unionist front bench.

“WHO KILLED THE KINC?

THE PREMIER’S ULTIMATUM.

DERISIVE AND ANGRY CRIES

Mr. Asquith himself seemed to be desirous of relinquishing his attempt to speak, but his colleagues persuaded him to continue,, and finally Mr. Asquith was able to make* some progress. He recited the history of the Bill, and recalled the resolutions of February 1910, but;,.the statement that hut for the death of the late King Edward the Bill would lqive been passed in 1910, aroused an instant storm of angry cries, such as: ‘‘Leave the King out of it,' and “Who killed the King?” Henceforth the Premier’s speech was punctuated with derisive and angry

cries, until Mr. Asquith angrily folded up his notes and cried out: I am not going to degrade myself by attempting to address members who obviously will not listen to me. I merely declare that if the Lords wilt not accept the Bill, with, if they like, reasonable amendments, the Government will be compelled to invoke the Royal prerogative.” Mr. Asquith resumed his ’ seat, and the Liberals cheered him enthusiastically, waving their papers and hats for several minutes. , J

“ AN ABSOLUTE DICTATOR.”

MR. BALFOUR IN REPLY.

A TRENCHANT CRITICISM

Mr. Balfour, who was heard in comparative silence, frankly regretted that Mr. Asquith had not been listened to, but said that the subject could net fail to excite passion. There were loud Unionist cheers when Mr. Balfour recalled how Mr. Churchill was the ringleader in the disturbance in 1905, whereby Mr. Lyttelton was kept standing at the table for an hour unable to speak. Mr. Balfour, proceeding, quoted the Radical newspapers to show' that Mr. Asquith lrad secured! pledges from the King before the general elections, and said that if that were so Mr. Asquith had incurred censure by forging a blank cheque from the Sovereign. Mr Asquith had arrogated powers that no Republican Dictator wrnuld have possessed. A Liberal member at this stage nterjected: Then you’ve been had. Mr. Balfour: True; if the member means that it never entered my head that a Minister of the Crown could give such advice. The Premier asked us to discuss the Bill, knowring all the time that we were not free agents, hut he had been advised that the Sovereign had made him an absolute dictator. Air. Asquith: I was going to give my reasons and argument for the grounds of my advice, but I am not allowed to do so. Air. Balfour admitted this, and said he believed that Air. Asquith’s action was due to his consciousness that it would have been a cruel trial to the Sovereign to introduce any discord during the Coronation. Air. Balfour concluded : The real heroes of tho campaign are irishmen. Their decrees must be obsequiously obeyed. Sir Edward Grey protested against the Opposition’s refusal to hear Air. Asquith, and moved the adjournment. Air. F. E. Smith followed him.

AN UNPRECEDENTED SCENE.

NINETY MINUTES’ DISORDER.

(Received July 26, 1.2-5 a.m.) The Alinisteriaiists wrathfully shouted Air. Smith down, until the Speaker, after ninety minutes’ disorder, rose and exercised the right vested in him in cases of grave disorder, and suspended the sitting.

No similar suspension has been experienced in living memory, and it caused a renewed demonstration. The members excitedly surged on to the floor of the House amidst general confusion and shouting until the Chamber was cleared. KINC’S DEPARTURE POSTPONED. DISCUSSES THE SITUATION WITH LEADERS. (Received July 26, 1.4-5 a.m.) LONDON, July 2-5. The King has postponed his departure for Goodwood. He received Air. Balfour and Lord Lansdowne in audience, and discussed the situation with them. He subsequently gave audience to Air. Asquith prior to the meeting of the House of Commons. Owing to the unexpected developments, Mr. Balfour has postponed his city meeting.