The Irish standard., 1912-10-19
Fierce Struggle in the British
Parliament Over Passage of
Home Rule Bill.
Bold Attempt to Overthrow the
Government on Baseless Charge
of Corrupt Practices.
The Attack on Lloyd George Fails
and Premier Asquith is Backed
by Supporters.

In his letter to the Chicago Tribune
of last Sunday, T. P. O'Connor says:
The situation in the Balkans still
remains in the same terrible uncer-
tainty, though the opinion that war
is inevitable is growing in every cap
ital.
Some justification in the action of
the Balkan confederacy is found il
the powerlcssness of the great pow
ers to rise to the demands and end
the perilous situation. Their pro-
crastination, indecision and trumpery.
and their half-hearted recommended
tion of reforms, without definition
and without guarantees, prove the
claim OF the Balkan states that only
war by them can force the real re-
forms in Macedonia.
The explanation Of this hopeless
impotence exposes the conflicting in
terests and the suspicion of each
power that another power hopes to
exploit the whole situation for it's own
benefit.
While some of the continental jour-
nails cast the. blame on endless di-
| plomacy, inspired by a desire to keep
in we'll with Turkey as the great Mo-
halh7nedan power, the general opinion
| is that the rivalry between Austria
and Russia is the chief obstacle to
any influence being exerted by the
great powers on the situation.
Nobody now doubts that, though
Bulgaria, Greece and Servia still hold
back, the action of Montenegro was
taken with their knowledge and con-
sent and that it was intended at once
| to precipitate the situation and at
| tack Turkey at the spot most vulner-
able for the moment, and therefore
make useful diversion for military
strategy by the other Balkan powers
when they are ready to march on
Turkey.
The news that Montenegro gained
the first victory adds another factor
towards a general war.
| All Europe in the meantime stands
shocked and appalled, before the pros
pect, for evidently the war will he
without quarter on any side and
there is u growing apprehension that
it cannot be localized and may bring
Russia and Austria into the field and
perhaps others.
In the meantime at home our own
fierce political struggle gains passion
with every hour. There, also, 1t is a
war without quarter on one side or
the other. The government is deter
mined to use the closure and every
other recourse to pass the Home Rule
bill by Christmas, while the Orange
men still declare that Ulster will
make civil war.
The governments stock has gone up
| with every hour since parliament re-
assembled. The Orangcmen appeared
in the Commons subdued and de-
! spondent, and made comparatively
mild speeches, while Premier Asquith
was cheered to the echo by every
Liberal when he declared that Home
Rule will be carried by the Commons
before Christmas and into law DUR
ing the lifetime of the present parlia-
ment
| A further sign of the present tenn
i per of the Liberal party is that the
attendance is splendid, for from the
minute that the House rises to the
minute it separates nearly every
member remains inside the parlia-
ment building. ...
Percy Illingworth. the new govern
ment whip, signalizes his accession
to Office and marks his view of the
seriousness Of the situation, and
above all the necessity Of constant
attendance in the House Of Commons,
by inducing q suspension of the great
land campaign which Lloyd George
has been preparing for months. and
also by calling off every public meet
ing in the next two months except
on Saturdays, when the House does
not sit.
The labor members still are com
PEELED to send some Of their number
3ssi. I'M Ii 3is is8ss .s3ss4s iBss