Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-17

Foreign Relations Discussed--O'Brtcn
on the Grimes Act.
rBy Anglo-American cable 70 The Dispa,ch.l


LoSD0s, February 1G.-in the House
OF Commons to-day Labouchere asked If
any dispatch from the British Embassa-
dor at Berlin suggested that England
give assurances to Italy which would IN
duce her to enter the Austro-German al
lance.
SirJames Ferguson replied that he
must decline to produce the correspond
ence between the British Government
and foreign Powers regarding affairs
in Europe. The House. be said. would
recognize that at the present time It
would be unwise to produce such CORE
spondence.
Labouchere thcreupon gave notice
that he would offer an amendment To
the address "that the House be IN
formed definitely that 20 corr, sp0ndcnce
exchanged with Italy had resulted IN
binding action on the British Govern
ment in The event Of war between Italy
and France, or # any assurances bad
been given that they be communicated
to the House" Cheers
In reply to a question 10y Gourley, Air.
Ferguson said he was happy to inform
the House that a telegram from Cham
borlain reported that fine fisheries treaty
had been signed ut Washington. This
treaty the Government believed 10 ha
satisfactory, although as vet unaware of
It's precise terms lie could not admit
that the differences regarding the Amcr'-
can fisheries amounted TO serious dis
puts Re said that the questions re-
latiye to Alaska bad been discussed by
the Plenipotentiarv at Washington, hus
he was not vet aware of the result.
". d. Smith intimated that the Gov
eminent did not think IT advisable at
present to appoint q committee on grants
to the royal family, as suggested by Nr.
Gladstone.
William O'Brien resumed tie debate
on the address IN reply to the Queens
speech. He slid Bilf0ur had failed to
smash the Irish organization, or TO
weaken the spirit Of the irish people. or
to degrade them in the eyes OF the
world. AFFECT liscomfrlre and disgrace
ha attended the crimes act. the opera
ton Of which proved to be one OF tine
most horrible measures ever DIRE tel
against human liberties. Regarding ms
own Imprisonment he said he did not
feel wounded nor i'm the least degraded.
With al his jaunty bravery , aionrs
conscience was not as easy as nl, o~n.
When In prison he resrn ted and felt keen
" the letter which Biltour wrote convey
ing the stcalthy, loa,hsome iusiuuation
that he sheltered himself whilst in pr on
under the plea OF Illness. NOW they
were face to face, and he challenged the
Government to produce the prison doc
tors 10 prove the truth OF the lusnua-
ton. rparncllite cheers. u bad been
asserted that the imprisoned ledgcrs
had tried to secure d-tn ton .ctween
the treatment given TO imprisoned menu
bers Of armament That given to lm-
prisouod peasants, but there was 10
foundation for the assertion. What the
imprisoned member, complained OF WAS
the moral torture inflicted upon
them from which ordinary crImi-
mails, were exempt When The Coz
eminent asked them voluntarily
to acknowledge their kiuship with cr!ml-
mails, they answered D." We viii die first
You will have to learn the difference bee
tween representatives of the criminal
classes and Irish political prisoners even
If it takes c0roners iuuns TO announce
the distinction. Reycrtlng to the fall
IRE Of coercion he said that the crimes
act had not stamped ont a single village
club. The plan Of campaign was un-
crippled every evicted tenant hal been
restored and every shilling OF law costs
incurred had been repaid as iudcmnites
by the landlords. Cheers.