Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-02-13
ASQU|7H HARD BESET
Demands of Irish Allies Make
Course Difficult.
BUDGET MUST COME FIRST
Result of Elections Does Not JUSTIFY
Asking Throne to Remove Veto
Power of Lords.

Special Cablegram to The Star.
LONDON, February 12-Messrs O'Brien
and Healy have not been long in max
ing themselves felt. To them entirely
is to be attributed Mr.. Redmonds Dublin
speech Thursday, which came as a YER
tble bombshell.
The explosion was felt in every political
camp. Irish hatred of the budget is
strong and was undisguisable It is skill
fully famed by O'Bren sand Healy's on
slaughts on Redmond for trading Irish
support in the house of commons in re.
turn for probably nothing.
1t was demonstrated in such fashion
that Redmonds hand was forced His
speech. which has been the sole topic OF
political discussion, was made, holding
Premier Asquith to his pledge of straight
way demolishing the veto of the house OF
lords as a necessary preliminary to a
home rule bill.
Cabinet Holds It's Tongue.
The cabinet preserves absolute secrecy
In the press and among political specula-
tors generally the confusion becomes
worse COMPOUNDED.
government must and will tackle the
budget first Even the most bitter oppo-
nents of this course are now forced to
srudgingly admit that it is unavoidable
The financial confusion as the result OF
the budget has not yet passed, 1t is said,
to the limits of endurance. AS soon as
Redmond's speech was reported the idea
came into birth that MIR. Asquith's sole
hope Of salvation lay in unionist help.
Unionist Help Offered.
This grew so rapidly that this morning
the Daily Mail, the Telegraph and the
Spectator all offered unionist help in the
house of commons to pass the hated
budget rather than it should be made i'm
possible to carry on the kings govern
ment" by the insolent Irish dictator.
The Times editorially declares this
would be the height of folly, but its par
liamentary writer refers more or less
favorably to the idea. The Morning Pos,
rejects it with scorn, saying the premier
has made his own bed and he must lie
on it.
The liberal press repudiates the notion
and particularly warns Mr.. Asquith
against being deluded into making a re-
form bill for the house of lords part OF
his program. Now IT counsels him to
smash the lords power of veto, either
by a bill on the lines proposed by the
late Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman. OF
by going straight to the crown.
Difficulties of Situation.
A reform bill, 1t is foreseen, would be
slow. When eventually rejected by the
house of lords. dissolution would follow
Extreme radicals. although much profess
sing, have little real faith and confidence
in an appeal to the country.
What is most likely to happen Is that
Mr.. Asquith will Immediately reintroduce
the budget and Mr.. Redmond will give
him support.
From a full report of his speech, which
was only available yesterday, it is seen
that he said:
IF it is a question of the budget and
home rule, j will accept the budget"
He still apparently adheres to his de-
nand that Mr.. Asquith make good his
pledge not to continue in Office without
guarantees that the lords veto will be
removed. The only guarantees possible
are from the king. No one, not even the
liberal press, considers that the result
of the elections warrants the premier In
making that demand from the crown.