Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1911-08-12
Baltour's Motion For Vote and
Censure OF Government
Rejected.
Premier Asquith Made Plain
statement About New
Peers.
HAS BEEN SENT TO The LORDS

Opponents of the veto bill got a
severe rebuke in the House Of Com
mons on Monday when Arthur
Balfour's motion for a vote of CEN
sure of the Government was
defeated by a majority of 119. Its
defeat was regarded as having failed
to improve the Unionist cause.
Peers and distinguished spectators
filled the chamber while the debate
on the vote of censure was in
progress. Hon. Whitelaw Reid, the
American Ambassador, and other
diplomats were present and evinced
the greatest interest in the proceed
ings.
Arthur J. Balfour, leader of the
opposition, said: THAT the advice
given His Majesty by his Ministers,
whereby they obtained from him a
pledge that a sufficient number OF
Peers would be created to pass the
Parliament bill in the shape in
which it left this house, is a gross
violation of constitutional liberty by
which among other i'll consequences
the people would be precluded from
again pronouncing upon the policy OF
home rule"
The former Unionist Premier
stated at the outset, that the step
he was about to ask the House OF
Commons to take was serious. He
thought 1t would be admitted that
never in all history had there been
a more serious case or one which
more urgently required the consider
alton of Parliament and the en-
phatic condemnation OF the Minis
ters.
Mr.. Balfour declared 1t would be
difficult to conceive of any poll
tlcian playing a more contemplate
part. He contended that the ques-
ton of home rule had not been be-
fore the country throughout the
controversy. There was not the
slightest justification for the crea-
ton of Peers to enable the Govern
ment to carry 1t through both houses
without reference to the people. 1t
was contrary to all opinions of con-
stitutional legislative chambers to
put both chambers in the hands of
the executive to manipulate as they
liked, and II was a wholly unconsti-
tutional method OF dealing with
deadlocks for the Prime Minister to
advise the King to pack the upper
house with hired voters. Mr.. Bal
four concluded with the prophesy
that the country would soon let the
radicals know that 1t would not nj
low a repetition of "the crime of
1911"
In the course of his reply Premier
Asquith said: ''It was my strong
hope and belief that the Lords
would accept the bill. and only when
that hope was frustrated, as II was
last month. was His Majesty asked.
and consented. If II was necessary,
to exercise his prerogative. We took
the only course consistent with
honor and a true regard for the dig
nifty of the Crown. The course was
correct, considerate and constitu-
tional, and in my own name and +
those of my colleagues | am per-
fectiy content TO accept the decision
Of the House and OF my fellow
countrymen in regard thereto"
Mr.. Asquith also -old the House
that II was at the Kings expressed
desire that he disclosed the COM
munications which had passed be-
tween them, so that there might be
no Misunderstanding of simple and
correct transaction. He also stated
that he had asked for guarantees for
the creation of new Peers and that
his request had been granted. "a
hold my office" he added. mot only
by the favor of the Crown. but on
behalf OF the people. and I should
be guilty indeed OF treason II at the
supreme moment OF great struggle
[ were to betray their trust"
Frederick II. Smith and other OF
the Unionist insurgents died hard
but were compelled TO fall back on
the wornout argument that the sup.
porters OF the Government were be.
Ing driven by their taskmaster. John
Redmond, and that their whole OBJ.
I iect was to secure the easy passage
Of home rule for Ireland.
The veto bill as originally
drafter was sent back to the House
OF Lords. II the Lords reject It the
new Peers will be created without
doubt.