The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1911-04-22
Veto Bill and Irish Home Rule
Both Are Moving Rapidly
Toward Victory.
Proposal For An Anglo-American
Treaty Apparently Meets
With Favor.
His Leadership Broken, Some Of His
Own Followers Would
Gust Balfour.

The proposal for an Anglo American
treaty has reached a curious stage,
says +. P. O'Connor, Mp, in his Lon
don cabled letter to the Chicago Trib-
une of Sunday, April Is. Apparently
the high and furious tide of feeling
in its favor has somewhat ebbed, but
this Is not really the case. The an
nouncement that both Premier Asquith
and A. ]. Balfour, leader Of the opposi-
ton, would speak at the lord mayor
meeting in it's favor is proof that it
still holds the field
The movement in its favor also goes
steadily on though more quietly, and
if the movement is less noisy it is
largely because the project seems to
have passed in the British imagina-
ton from a mere proposal to a prac-
teal certainty.
IL differences or difficulties exist in
America against the conclusion of the
treaty. no such differences and diff
ficulties exist in England, where the
opinion is unanimous, decided and
eager.
Must Accept Veto Action.
This approachment between the two
countries and the approach of the
colonial premiers account for the un-
dercurrent beneath the stormy tide of
passionate Tory filibustering that all of
the changes proposed by Asquith and
the Liberal party will ultimately come
not only rapidly but with less real hos
tility than now appears.
AT the moment the Tories still are
tilibustering in the house of COM
mons, but even their filibustering
shows it is more shouting than
strength.
When Asquith, having allowed the
Tories sufficient rope, came down this
week with the drastic closure, the pro-
tests were plainly artificial. The clos
ure will be even more drastic and cer-
tain when the house of commons re-
sumes after it's five days vacation if
the filibusterlng continues.
Hope for Compromise Vain.
It now is fairly certain that the veto
bill will have left the house OF com
mons when the coronation comes. The
Tories still talk of the possibility of
a compromise, but it is difficult to see
what compromise Asquith could safe
4. ;o11
sential his own party would break be-
hind him, and of course the Irish and
Laborites would Immediately revolt.
But to tell the truth. Asquith shows
not the least inclination to surrender
anything except small and technical
points.
1t is probable the course of the fu-
ture Of the veto bill can now be fairly
anticipated. The filibustering will con-
rinue in the house Of commons so long
as the drastic closure will permit, and
the house of lords will not reject the
bill on the second reading, but will
amend it out of existence.
Tories Must Quit Fight.
All this will be done by the Tories,
partly with the view of saving their
faces, but more with the purpose and
hope Of some compromise.
But when these efforts fail, 1 have
little doubt that both the Tories in
the commons and in the house of
lords will yield under the protest and
the veto bill will become law without
the necessity of creating the new peers.
Irish Speakers in Demand.
The demand for Irishmen on the
English platforms is as great as in
the palmy days of Parnell, and I find
also that the Liberals are as ardent
and united in favor Of Home Rule as
they were twenty years ago.
On the other hand, it is equally pal
pable that the old Tory cries OF separ-
alton and the danger to the religious
liberties Of the Protestants in Ulster
no longer produce any effect on the
English opinion.
Balfour beat the big Orange drum
this week, and will continue to do so;
but a. large section Of even his own
followers have a quiet faith in Irish
Home Rule as the beginning OF federal