The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1886-09-04 00:00:00

TIM ADDRESS.

In the Housz OF COMMONS the debate on the Ad-
dress was resumed by Mr. S. Smith, who moved as an
amendment to add at the end of the Address an ex-
pression of regret at the continuance of the war in
Upper Burmah and the great extension of military
operations occasioned thereby, and a representation to
her Majesty that the expenses of the said war should
not be borne exclusively by India.
The motion having been seconded by Dlr.Buchanan,
Mr. Greiner moved to amend it by inserting an expres-
sion of regret that the Government had resolved to
persevere in their policy of annexation, especially as
the native population had by their active hostility and
armed resistance to the invading forces shown that
they had no desire to live under British rule.

Sir J. E. Gorst admitted that every one must concur
In the expression of regret at the continuance of the war,
but if the question of the justice of the original invasion
was to be raised it should be done by motion in the usual
constitutional manner. It was only after years of resist-
ance to the idea that the Government of India at
length resolved upon the war, and when her Majesty's
late Governmett reviewed the conduct of Lord Dufferin
and their predecessors they came to the conclusion
that the war was necessary for the protection and
safety of British Burmah and our Indian dominions
generally. Mr. Gladstone had declared that the war
and annex4tion were to be justified upon the ground of
Indian interests, and that it was in intention and in
reality a defensive war. If the war were defensible
upon that ground, it was India and not Great Britain
that ought to bear the cost. The feeling of the
Burmese people was manifested by the welcome they
gave our troops and their readiness to furnish them
with supplies. Until the season was favour-
able it was impracticable for our forces in
Burmah to make any general movement against the
insurgent princes, but in the meantime they were
giving protection to the villagers against the dacoits.
It was intended when the cold season commenced to
mass in Upper Burmah a force of 30,000 men, which
would be sufficient to put down any organised and
armed resistance to our Government. There would also
be an adequate naval force on the Irrawaddy. The actual
expenditure of the operations would probably greatly
exceed the original estimate, but he could promise
that the extra expenditure beyond the revenues of
Upper Burmah would not exceed the surplus paid into
the Indian Exchequer by Lower Burmah.
In the course of a prolonged discussion, Sir G
Campbell pronounced the annexation a mistake and
attributed it to a French scare; Mr. Illingworth sug-
gested that further bloodshed should be avoided by
establishing a native prince upon the throne; Dr.
Tanner protested against the annexation as a gigantic
piece of land-grabbing on the part of the British
Government; and Mr. Allison insisted that this country
ought to bear at least a porticn of the cost.
Sir U. Kay-Shuttleworth maintained that the war
against Burmah was undertaken for the protection of
India and Indian interests, and the cost ought therefore
to be paid by the Indian Exchequer. Lord Duff erin
went to Mandalay prepared to consider carefully
whether some other course than annexation was not
desirable, but when he got there he was convinctd that
annexation was the only practical policy. It was our
duty, in the interests of the Burmese themselves, to
carry out the policy which had been adopted by succes-
sive Governments.

Mr. Summers, Mr. Burt, Sir J. Swinbarne, Mr
Oonybeare, and Mr. Rowlands concurred in condemning
the war and the annexation, and after an intimation by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer that the Government
would oppose both amendments the House divided, and
rejected that of Mr. Oremer by 201 to 125.
A second division resulted in the rejection of Mr. S.
smith's amendment by 199 to 126.

Dr. Clarke having moved the adjournment of the
debate,
The Chancellor of the Exchequer resisted the motion,
and expressed his opinion that the proceedings of the
evening had not been conceived with a view to the
public advantage or the despatch of the business of the
House.

Par. Illingworth repelled the imputation of the noble
lord, and observed that it seemed very much like a case
of Satan correcting sin.
A long and heated discussion ensued.
. _

The motion for the adjournment was negatived by
197 to 122. Eventually the debate was adjourned on
the motion of Mr. A. Sutherland, and the House ad-
journed at one o'clock.

The HOUSE OF LORDS met for a short time on
August 31st. Resolutions of a formal character, having
reference to private bills, were passed without dis-
cussion.

WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE.

Lord Denman introduced and moved the first reading
of a Women's Suffrage Bill_

The motion was agreed to, and their lordships, at
half-past four o'clock, adjourned.

QUESTIONS.

fn the Housz OF COMMONS, Sir J. Fergusson, answer-
ing questiuns from Sir W. Barttelot and others, said he
believed that Prince Alexander intended to visit
Philippopolis before going to Sofia, and he added that
the Government did not intend to carry the question
of Batoum beyond the position in which it was left by
Lord Rosebery's despatch.