The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-12-22
NEW PREMIER AVOIDS
 HOME RULE QUESTION
HEAD OF BRITISH GOVERNMENT SPEAKS TO VAST AU-
 DIENCE.

First Address Since Taking the Pre-
 miershfp-DecIares the Fiscal Prob
 lem the Prime Issue of the Campaign
 Announces That He Will Stop the
 Importation of COOIIe Labor Into
 South AfrIca-Expresses Kindly
 Feeling Toward Russia in Her Pres
 ent TrIaI-NO Reason for Estrange-
 ment from Germany.
 London, Dec. 21.-Sir Henry Camp bell-Bannerman's first speech since he accepted the premiership was delivered at Albert hall tonight before a mass meeting under the auspices of the Lib eral federation. The premier was sup ported on the platform by fifteen mem bers of his cabinet, including Sir Rob ert Threshie Reid, lord high chancellor Herbert Henry Asquith, chancellor of the exchequer; Herbert John Gladstone, secretary for home rule affairs: John Morley, secretary for India; John Burns, president of the local govern ment board; Lord Tweedmouth, first lord of the admiralty. and Richard Bur don Haldane, secretary of war.
 The vast auditorium was packed with an audience chiefly composed of Lon doners. John Burns was acclaimed by continuous applause and musical honors until the picturesque representa- tive of labor in the British cabinet was palpably embarrassed.
 The premier carefully avoided the question of home rule for Ireland. He said that the fiscal question was the prime issue of the campaign against a government whose ministry made a midnight fitting on a murky December evening"
 A feature of Sir Henry's speech was his announcement that the government had decided to stop the importation of coolies into South Africa until such time as the question for or against such importation could be decided by a South African parliament elected by popular vote. This was greeted with tremendous enthusiasm.
 ''In this connection may state that Lord Elgin (secretary for the colonies) to-day teiegraphed Lord Selborne (flfgh IOAIltllAooEOlASl III 6Outu k1IEtGttlt SdytIk that the importation of Chinese labor must be regarded as an experiment adopted blythe late government to meet the serious shortage Of labor. His maJesty's government now considers that the introduction of Chinese labor CTS should not be extended until 1t can learn the opinion of the colony through a neleeted and really representative legislature The government accord ingly has decided that the recruiting, embarkation or importation of Chinese coolies shall be arrested pending a de- cision concerning the grant of a resporl- sible government to the colony" .
 Speaking of foreign relations, Sir Henry first expressed his kindly feeling toward Russia in the present trial through which that country was pass ing. In the case of Germany, he said, he saw no reason whatsoever for es- arrangement, and welcomed the unoffl- cial demonstration of friendship which had recently passed between the two countries. Regarding the United States, France and Japan, the premier accept ed the existing conditions and approv- ed everything which tended towards peace.
 Sir Henry upheld this announcement with another which elicited great ap- plause. He said that the growth of ar- maments was great danger, that force was not the only remedy, and that economy must be adopted. The gov- ernment would oppose aggression and would be animated by a desire to re- main on the best terms with all na- tionalities and to cooperate in the com mon work of civilization. In this, he pointed out, the government had mo- table ally in the present fiscal system, which was a great guarantee of peace. He reioiced that the principle of ar- bitration had made great strides.
 In general terms the premier outlined his policy for retrenchment and for complete system of government by the people flor the good of the greatest number In equally generol terms he gave notice that most of the domestic acts of the late government would be traversed by the incoming liberal gov- ernment, and he made a powerful bid for the popular vote.
 Women suffragists who had invaded the meeting waved flags ond demanded that women should be granted the right to vote. Sir Henry ignored the inter ruptions and several of the more en- thusiastic women had to be elected during the meeting.
 MT. Asquith also spoke, but he added little to the pronunciamento of the pre- mier.