14 AUGUST 1920, Page 2

Could Mr. Asquith name a single man in Ireland who

could speak with authority and accept Dominion Home Rule on behalf of the Irish people ? As a matter of fact, the Sinn Fein members had distinctly stated that they would not accept it. They would have nothing short of a republic. Mr. .Asquith had shirked the question. Being unwilling to accept responsibility for enforcing the law in Ireland, he had got out of it by saying that if Dominion Home Rule were offered, it would not be necessary to enforce the law. " I ask him, What authority has he for his statement ? I invite him to answer that question." Naturally Mr. Asquith could not answer it, and merely replied that he had only been expressing his own opinion.