The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-02-15
ASQU|TH EXPLAINS
 HALDANE' VISIT ID
 THE GERMAN COURT
Made as Result of Intima- tiOn From the German
 Government
HS GRE < SATISFACTION IOV Ss ANNOUNCEMENT
O st in the Premier's Speech Over adOws That in Government Legislative Program--king's
 Speech Is Disappointing

Legislative Program--king'
 Speech Is Disappointing
 London, February 14.--The opening today of the parliamentary season which is to deal with home rule, Welsh and electoral reform was marked by a statement by Pre- mier Asquith that the visit to Berlin of Viscount Haldane secretary of war, was made at the invitation of Ger many and that the conversations be- tween the British war minister and the German authorities had reference to a desire on the part of both coun- tries that the existing tension should be relieved
 Interest in this statement completely overshadowed that in the governments huge legislative programme. Since Sec retary Haldane's visit to Berlin the English people have been prepared for the announcement that it had to do with Anglo German relations but they hardly hoped that the conversations had proceeded as far as the prime min isters guarded speech shows. His hope ful words that he believed the conver- sations may have more than negative results have caused the greatest satis- faction.
 Opposition Informed
 IL is evident that Andrew, Bonar, Law and Lord Lansdowne. leaders of the opposition, respectively of the house of commons and the house of lords, had been informed of the course of the discussion for although they spoke be- fore the premier, Lord Lansdowne as- sured the government of unionists support in any move to secure bet ter understanding with Germany.
 The speeches on domestic affairs dealt only generally with the govern rents executive programme. Bonar Law. in fighting speech, promised to offer stubborn resistance to home rule and other measures. Lord I.ansdowne intimated that home rule will meet it's fate in the house of lords. 1t will. therefore, have to be rensssed by the hnusf z sainns4.,. sss ptu.Ieet B. tiFe parliament bill.
 Only passing reference was made to electoral reform and the possibility of woman suffrage. These measures will come up during the longer debates on 10 the address which are to be proposed by the opposition labor ties.
 Angl0-German Negotiations
 The first official glimpse at the progress or the Anglo-German negotiations was given by Premier Asqnith in the course of 6 debate in the house of commons tGis afternoon. The prime minister said that the British government had received last month an intimation that the visit of a British minister to Berlin would not be unweleome and might facilitate the attainment of the common object of the two nations.
 Niseount Hadane, the British secretary of war, was consequently sent to Der lin.
 There was, Mr. Asquith said perfect freedom of statement and frankness of explanation between Viscount Haldane and the German authorities over a wide area of discussion. He continued:
 Outlook Encouraging
 q genuinely believe that these conver- sations may have more than merely negative result. There Is unmistakable evidence of a sincere desire on both sides ol lHe tStdDlSHlntnl Ol DtlIfT IOOtlnB between us. It is in that spirit that both nations are now engaged on a care ful survey of the practical possibilities"
 Premier Asquith, who referred to the overlooking of Anglo-German relations as "a most lamentable fact" took oc- casion to deny the story that the British fleet last autumn was preparing for an aggressive attack on Germany.
 Tt was a pure invention without q sloa nc ha the German government and our own are animated by a sincere desire to bring about a better state of understanding.
 Unusual Methods
 The visit of Viscount Haldane to -,er- lin in this connection involved both sides in departure from conventional meth ods. but 1t was felt by both nations that frankness of statement and communca- ton would be easier in the first in- stance if there were an informal non- con.mital conversation rather than reg ular diplomatic negotiations Such an ex- change of views under such conditions ought to dispell the suspicion that either contemplates aggressive de- signs against the other That by itself would be great gain"
 MT Asquith concluded:
 ''I cannot of course. al this stage en- ter into matters of detail, but l may say that in the course of Vscount Hal danes visit to Berlin there was unmis- takable evidence of the sincere desire of both sides for the establishment of better footing between us without on either side in any way sacrificing or im- pairing the special relationship in which each of us stands to other powers"
 Domestic Affairs
 MT Asquith. turning to domestic af-7 fairs with particular reference to home rule. said that the government had now what il had not in 1S93-it had d ma. icrity in Great Britain for home rule.
 Bonar Law nterposed with the remark: You haven't a majority of the independ- eni Irish vote.''
 The premier retorted: Eliminating the Irish vote in this house we have ma jority. It is a matter of political arith- metic.'
 The opposition leader who preceded the prime minister criticised generally the home and foreign policy of the govern ment and the changes in the government in India. As to nome rule. he insisted that the premi5,. had adopted an un- usual course in leaving the explanation of the measure to his colleague. Mir Churchill, instead of ma king the explana- ton himself He hoped soon to be in possession of information as to the fu- ture position of the Irish members of and whether the customs vculd/ be entrusted f, an Irish parlia- ment.
 The debate was carried on in the house of .fords by the Marquis of Lansdowne and tho Marquis of crewe. The former