On Thursday the Commons discussed the Labour amend- ment praying
that the signing of the South African Indemnity
Bill should be reserved, i.e., vetoed. Mr. Harcourt made a wise and notable speech, in which he laid down the principles which should—and he might quite well have said must—guide the Imperial Government in their relations with the self- governing Dominions, and most properly warned the House of the grave consequences of trying to interfere with the self-governing communities. He eloquently defended Lord Gladstone from the attacks made upon him by the Labour speakers in the country. The amendment was rejected by 214 to 50. The result should have a steadying effect through- out the Empire. It puts on record the true relations between the self-governing Colonies. In this context we must express our astonishment at the willingness of the Radicals to invoke the Royal veto over the legislation of a democratic, Parlia- ment. ,Their action is a strong justification of our protest against the proposals of that small body of misguided Unionists who were mad enough to desire that the Royal veto should be used in the case of the Home Rule Bill.
Previous page
