New-York tribune., 1903-02-18
COMMONS SHARP DEB4IE
Liberal Leaders attack and the
Premie,-'s Reply.

London. Feb. l1.-When the House OF |oiii-
mons assembled for the transaction OF pusl
| ness this afternoon the Speaker, William |oul
c;,,,1- read the Kings speech to a somewhat
| small attendance MI Grafton. Conservative
| moved the address in reply to the speech and III
| So doing EXPRESSED satisfaction at the ternlnd-
| .ion of the Venezuelan blockade and at the TACT
that through the difficult affair cordial relatioiiS
| had been maintained with the United states
Mr. c5revilIe Conservative, seconded the mo
| ton He referred in so doing TO the irish Lana
bill in terms which elected approving cheefs
| from the Irish members
The Liberal leader, Sir Henry Campbeil-Ban-
| herman, who was loudly cheered. followed ne
| said he desired information the subjects OF
| venezueia and Macedonia, and on the great
| question Of the settlement Of affairs in South
Africa In Venezuela, he said, the cloud had
happilv passed. but il was a black cloud ana
| one which many people thought might have
been avoided It might have had dangerous
consequences. and * was the duty of the country
TO inquire how il had been led into such a
difficulty.
Sir Henry commented the fact that Ger
| many was not mentioned in the Kings speech
| in connection with Venezuela. There were peo-
pie in this country. he continued, who were OF
| the opinion that Great Britain should not as
sociate with Germany under any circumstances.
but he did not synlpa thiZe with that view. al
though he admitted there had been much abuse
and SANDER Of this country in the German press
| The speaker was opposed to cooperation with
Germany in matter like the Venezuelan. Ger
many was strong, bu. rough. Germany also
was not favorable to the Monroe Doctrine. II
there had ever been case for arbitration the
Venezuelan affair one. and If this course
had been adopted in the first place great prece-
dent would have been established toward the
+ofi i,7+er al
Referring 70 South Africa. Sir Henry said they
might have differed in the past over the war,
hut now the war was over he urged that they
all work for the common purpose of laying the
foundations for a new life in that part of the
world. He heartily concurred in the sentiments
and desires expressed by the Colonial Secretary.
Mr.. Chamberlain. for the fusion of the two white
races in South Africa. but he (Sir Henry wanted
TO know if Mr.. Charnberlains acts were subject
to the approval of his colleagues? If bargain
was made. who was to speak with authority for
the nation.
In conclusion. Sir Henry, who spoke for an
| hour and quarter criticised the growth of the
national expenditures.
| The Premier, Mr.. Ealfour in reply. said that
| Mr.. Chamberlain had consulted his collea CUES.
| He added:
We entirely indorse end make ourselves re
sponsihle for the general policy he has declared
|
| Mr.. Balfour referred briefly TO the Brussels
! Sugar Convention, which, he reiterated, did not
interfere with the most favored nation clause Of
commercial treaties. He also announced that
/ the government had decided not to penalize
sugar from any Of the colonies
In regard TO the conditions prevailing in
Macedonia. Mr.. Balfour said they were a con-
slant menace TO the peace Of Europe. The ad
ministration Of the laws defective there.
| An incorruptible government was needed to in
troduoe the primary elements of order in Mace
! donia-
/ In conclusion Mr.. Bafour defended the action
Of the British Government toward Venezuela,
and contended that il impossible to lay the
! papers before the House at present. Broadly
| speaking, continued Mr.. Balfour, the negotia-
tions were carried out with the greatest regard
not only for the feelings Of the American people
! and government, but for the feelings of Ven
ezuela
The debate was then suspended.
! The night session lasted two hours the House
sdjourning al II o'clock without any imports Mt
incident Sir Charles Dixie and Austen Cham
berlain were among the speakers, the former
asking for further information concerning the
J British alliance with Germany in the Venez-
uelan dispute, and criticising the British eX-
! peditioa against Kapo Northern Nigeria.
Austen Chamberlain replied brlefy regarding
! the Kano expedition. defending the manner in
which the campaign had been conducted.
| a noticeable feature of the entire debate was
the general listlessness displayed. even Sir
! Henry Campbell -Rannerm7n ana Mr. Baltour
! failing 10 evoke enthusiasm