The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1908-03-31
Parliament Votes Home Rule
With String Tied TO It
REOMONDS ARDENT SPEECH
Chancellor Asquith Adds His Personal
Plea For ireland and Reminds Par
Lament That Promises Must
Be Surely Fulfilled.

London, March SO-The House of Com
mons tonight after a lengthy debate on
the question of home rule for Ireland,
adopted by vote of 3l3 to 157, a resolu-
tion moved by John E. Redmond the
nationalist leader, that Sin the opinion of
this house, solution of the problem can
only be attained by giving the Irish peo-
pie legislative and executive control of
all purely Irish affairs after the resolu-
tion had been amended by adding the
words, "all subject to the supreme au-
thority of the Parliament
1t was known beforehand that the de-
est, because the government had already
pledged that there would be no deal in
the matter of home rule until it had been
given a mandate at the general elections.
But the debate was made notable by the
strong declaration of Chancellor Asquith,
which is all the weighticr because at the
moment Mr.. Asquith is actually assum--
ing the premiership.
Mr.. Balfour, in brief speech, accused
his opponents of speaking with two mean
ings, a radical meaning and a nationalist
meaning. He asked how was possible
to carry out The Irish reforms with
British money, except by a British Par
lament and ironically challenged Mr.. As
quith to clear up this ambiguity.
Asquith Stands Firm.
Amid ironical unionist laughter Mr. As
quith arose and said that never in his
life had he felt less embarrassed. For
over 20 years he and his colleagues had
steadily and consistently advocated self
government with respect to Ireland s
purely local affairs. He held that opin-
ion now as strongly as ever. He could
not however, support Mr.. Redmond's mo-
tion in its present form, because he found
in 1t no explicit recognition OIL imperial
supremac.- and because no Parliament
would be justified in embari1ing on such
a task unless the matter had first been
submitted to the electorate. 1t would
be a gross and inexcusable violation of
their promises to do so in the lifetime of
the present Parliament. So far as the
present Parliament was concerned, he
said, they had exhausted their powers
in regard to the problem of Irish gov
ernment in the Irish councils bill last
year.
Timothy Healy closed the debate, de-
claring that Mr.. Asquith was mistaken if
he supposed If he supposed he would be
recommended to the Irish nation by his
speech.
Earl Percy, on behalf of the unionists,
moved an amendment declaring the house
to be unalterably opposed to the creation
of an Irish Parliament with respon-
sible executive but the amendment was
rejected.
Party Whip Active.
Urgent whips from officials of all the
PARTIES brought a great gathering to the
House of Commons for the debate on
home rule for Ireland.
In moving the resolution which de-
nounced the present system OF govern
p'ent in ireland, and wound up with the
declaration that 'in the opirion of this
house a solution of this problem can
Only be obtained by giving the Irish peo-
pie legislative and executive control OF all
purely Irish affairs" John Redmond, the
nationalist leader, put the home rule 1ssLa
ir uncompromsing terms. Mr.. Redmoni
declared that an overwhelming majority
of the present House of Commons always
had professed their belief that the con-
cession of home rule was the only solution
o. the Irish problem and that every mem-
he1 of the present government at one time
or another had given public pledges to this
same effect. He now proposed to put
them on record and free the hands OF the
liberal party and the government at the
next elections so as to make sure that
there would be no repetltlOn OF tne Sratui-
tous pledges made by so many of the
members at the last election not to in
troduce home rule during the life of the
present parliament.
Argument of Fear.
The only argument remaining against
home rule, Mr.. Redmond continued, was
an argument of lear. 1t Is said, he de-
cared that Ireland is disloyal So was
Canada in 1887, and SO was General Botha
artil the Transvaal was given self gov
ernment Mr.. Redmond. in conclusion,
6 sked the House to give Ireland what
has been given the Frenchmen of Quebec
and the Dutchmen of the Transvaal and
thus close the blackest chapter in the
history of the empire.
Chief Secretary for Ireland Birrell came
out squarely in support of home rule. AMI
declared there was not man in the
House of Commons but knew mat sooner
or later there would be a very substan-
tial modification i'll the relations between
Great Britain and Ireland. The imperial
parliament, he said, had not time to at.
terd to the needs of Ireland; there were
scores of vital measures requiring inine-
date and constant attention unless they
were going to allow something like helf'
to prevail in Ireland.
II the natonalists should bring thel'
proposals clearly before the people at the
next general election, Mr.. Birrell said he
believed the English electorate would
rally to their help in solving the probleri