THE REFERENDUM AND MR. ASQUITH'S PROPOSALS.
[To raz Ernes or THE “Seacxxxos."] Silk—Mr. Asquith, speaking on the question of referring the Home Rule Bill to the people, used as an argument against doing so "How could the Government possibly stay in office and pretend to carry on the administration of the country if an adverse decision was given against them on their principal Bill?" If that alone prevents Mr. Asquith from accepting the Referendum, could not the reference be so framed that this one question should be given the people to reply "Yes" or "No" to?—" Are you in favour of Ulster, or the counties in Ulster which vote for Exclusion, remaining outside the Dublin Parliament until specially included either by vote of the Imperial Parliament or by their own desire ? " The result of a vote taken on such a question need have no effect on the Government, as the Bill with the Prime Minister's own pro- posals embodied in it would be totally different from the
Previous page
