New-York tribune., 1911-02-16
HOME RULE SEEMS SURE
Irish Factions Unite in Support
of the Liberal Policy.
Mr.. CHURCHILL'S SPEECH
Result Of Premier's Plan Elk.
pected to Add to Unity of
the Empire.

London. Feb. l5-PremIer Asquith, In the
preliminary Home Rule debate In the House
OF Commons to-day. reiterated his declara-
ton that the governments first task after
the veto bill he'd been disposed OF would
bo to carry out policy of full self gov
ernment for Ireland The introduction Of
the veto measure has been postponed until
Tuesday. owing to the absence on next
Monday OF A. J. BAlfour. leader OF the
opposition In the House, who must attend
the funeral Of his brother.
The Nationalist members Of the House
Of Commons came across the Irish Chan
mel In force to-day for the preliminary
skirmish on the Home Rule question. which
arose as the result OF an amendment to
the address In reply 10 the speech from
the throne moved in the lower house by
| Ian H. Malcolm, Conservative member for
Croydon.
Complaining that the obscuri.y OF the
ministerial statements on the subject of
home rule. which avowedly was one Of
the main reasons for altering the existing
constitution" hampered effective delibera-
! ton on the proposed changes Of the re-
lations between the two houses Of Par
| lament. Mr.. Malcolm asked on what terms
peace had been patched up between the
Liberals and Nationalists. He held that
the land purchase act, permitting Irish
! tenants to acquire property, had knocked
| the bottom out Of the demand for Home
Rule. and protested against an attempt
/ TO smuggle Home Rule through by a single
chamber government
| Premier Asquith followed and in brief
speech. which drew forth vigorous cheers
from the Irish and Liberal benches, said
that every one voted at the general cleo
ton in December with the full knowledge
that when the Lords, the great obstacle
To the achievement of Liberal legisa
were cleared away the first task OF the
government would be to carry out policy
of full self-government for Ireland
! I'VE have never for one moment re-
tracted or receded from that position,
said the Premier.
| Mr. Asquth remarked on the absence in
the present debate OF the foolish and dis
creditable" election cry Of British votes
being sold for American gold, and main
tanned that the only satisfactory solution
of the problem of the congestion of busi-
|
creation OF an Irish parliament. with an
Irish executive responsible thereto. for deal
Ing with purely Irish affairs, while main
tanning the supremacy Of the British Par
| Lament unimpaired.
John Redmond. on behalf OF the Ma
tionalists. welcomed the Premier's declara
| ton. and added that he honestly believed
! that Home Rule as defined by Mr.. Asquitf
would be the final settlement OF this ques
ton. and that, as far as they could. the
Natlonalists pledged their countrymen Z
that effect.
Mr.. Redmond denied that he was a sep
aratst The Nationalists, he said. had &C
cepted imperial supremacy and invited th'
| House or Commons TO make IL effective
He hoped that the reign OF the presen
King would be made glorious by the open
ing by the sovereign in person OF par
Lament of the friendly and reconciled lrisl
nation.
Winston Spencer Churchill. the HON
Secretary, said that If they could reconcil
the Irish and English people and rally TN
Irish nation around the monarchy 1t woul'
gain an advantage equal TO many divisions
of the fleet and army. Moreover. he added
there would be not one OF the self-govern
ing colonies whose relations with tn
mother country would not be rendered
more intimate and more cordial.
William O'Brien did not doubt that Home
Rule ultimately would come. He doubted
the possibility OF carrying the measure II
the present Parliament, however. but prom