The second reading of the Evicted Tenants (Ireland) Bill was
moved in the Lords on Tuesday by Lord Crewe, who argued that the evicted tenants had a moral claim, and that it was undesirable to leave the question longer unsettled. Lord Lansdowne, while admitting the moderation of Lord Crewe's speech, described as demoralising the reinstatement of men who had been engaged in a dangerous agitation in a better position than other tenants who bad not been evicted. He outlined certain amendments which lie intended to propose,— to secure the planters from injustice, to render compulsion less liable to abuse, and to establish a Court of Appeal able to deal with questions of law and of fact. In recommending the second reading, subject to subsequent amendment in Committee, he was actuated by three motives. First, the understanding of 1903 committed them to a measure of reinstatement. Second, the Bill had come to them supported by enormous majorities in the Commons, and he believed they would always desire to treat attentively and respectfully Bills that came to them so recommended. There was, he added, a third reason, and to his mind the strongest of all. ",He could not help fearing that the summary rejection of the Bill might greatly increase the difficulties of the Executive Government
in Ireland In these circumstances, and when this Bill was represented to them as one urgently needed for the sake of peace in Ireland, he was not prepared to take the responsi- bility of moving its rejection on second reading."
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