10 JUNE 1893, Page 2

The same evening, Mr. Courtney proposed to leave out the

words which prevent the Irish Legislature from imposing Customs duties, on the ground that if they created a Par- liament in Dublin, they would be "irresistibly drawn into giving" the power of levying Customs ; and that it was best that the country should face the fact at once. The point, though a perfectly good one, was somewhat too subtle for the House of Commons, and gave Mr. Gladstone an opportunity to pose as a Unionist determined to preserve " the great and vast trade circle " of the United Kingdom as something almost sacred. Ultimately, the Closure was carried by 203 to 256, The motion itself was then negatived without a division.