The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-17
CLASH OYER IRISH LAND BILL.
TRUCE WITH THE GOVERNMENT
ENDS IN ULTIMATUM.
Redmond's Amendment on Purchase Price
OF Land Fought in House Of Commons
and Government Gets 4 Majority OF
Only Al-l.iberals support Amendment.

Special Gable Despatch 10 TEE sun.
LONDON, June le.-Two days hammering
at the Irish Land bill in committee OF the
House Of Commons has resulted IN bringing
the Irish members sharply In conflict with
the Government and seriously imperiihng
that "truoe OF God" regarding which 40
many felicitous words were exchanged by
the Ministers and Nationalists.
The cruz OF the bill. as already explained
In The Suns cable dispatches. lies in the
question OF the purchase price OF the land
The first clause says that In the case OF
seoond-term rents the purchase price shall
not be less than 10 per cent and no moro
than 30 per cent. Of the existing rents,
and in case Of frst-term rents. not less
than 20 and no more than 40 per cent. Mr..
Redmond moved an amendment sui =
stituting Is and rs per cent. respectively,
for 10 and 20 per cent.
Throughout yesterday the Nationalist
fought strenuously for the abolition OF the
fixed minimum. although Mr.. Wyndham,
Chief Secretary for Ireland, the introducer
Of the bill, twice expressed his determine
ton to adhere to that minimum. reminding
the Irish members that that was the amount
fixed in each case by the Land Conference.
Speaking again to-day Mr.. Wyndham
offered to listen to any plea urged for the
purpose OF exempting the poorest tenants,
but said he could not yield the principle.
Then Mr.. Redmond rose and delivered
an ultimatum on behalf of his party. He
said that the Irish must stand by their
amendment. He concluded by saying
~Unless the right honorable gentleman
can see his way to go further cannot truth
fully say to the Irish people that the bill
will fulfill the hopes which have been raised
in Ireland. or That it will settle the Irish
question" He warned Mr.. Wyndham that
they were at the parting Of the ways,
Mr.. John Morley and Sir Edward Gray
backed Mr.. Redmond, who was supp orted
by all the Nationalist and by T. W. Russell
who, although he is Unionist. strongly
advocates land law reform. Some Of the
more fiery Nationalist launched out in old
style attacks on the government. but MIR.
Redmond checked them. clearly not desiring
to embitter the debate.
When division was taken on Mr. Red
mond's amendment the Government OBJ
tanned a majority of only Al, the vote stand
ing 2l7 to l7e. The Sationalists greeted
the result with jubilant cheers Sir Henry
Campbell Bannerman led all the Liberals
present in support Of the amendment for
which six Unionists also voted
LONDON. June 1.-THE Daily Neus,
Radical, commenting on the vote on Mr..
Redmond's amendment to the Irish Land
bill, says that many persons now believe
that the measure is dead. 1t adds that
there Is certainly pressure on the Tory
side to drop it, now that it no longer car
ries a promise Of settlement.
Irishmen naturally resent the way in
which the Government has used them TO
pass the two Education bills and then throw
them over at the bidding Of the landlords
The price has been paid, but the article
has not been delivered.
Many rejoice that the Tory alliance has
gone, and that the party is free from an
association to which 1t has been as loyal
as Mr. Balfour and the Government have
been faithless.
There ia still hope that something may
be made of the bill. but in it's present form
no one, except. perhaps. Mr.. Timothy Healy,
will recommend it to the Irish tenantry as
safe or just bargain.
This, OF course is an ex parte view, but
it accurately reflects the opinion Of tho
extreme Radicals and Sationalists.