The new Government is in fact, though not in words,
absolutely pledged not to introduce any Bill in the next Parliament for the creation of a separate Legislature in Ireland, or for the eitablishment of an Irish Parliament in any shape or form. That is a truism which is now universally admitted. Lord Rosebery's speech at the Liberal League dinner on Monday conveyed strong confirmation of this, though in reality none was needed. Lord Rosebery admitted in the frankest way that no one out of a lunatic asylum would think of introducing a Home-rule Bill into the next Parliament, and that apart from that they had a " guarantee within the Cabinet" against such legislation. Lord Rosebery went on to explain that what he had always feared was not a Home-rule Bill, but a Liberal party hag- ridden by the Nationalists, though even that fear was, he declared, now considerably mitigated. Finally, he asserted that the presence of Mr. Asquith, Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Haldane, and Sir Henry Fowler in the Cabinet was a guarantee that, "as long as they remain there, the interpreta- tion I put on the Prime Minister's speech in my utterances at Bodmin is spurious, unauthorised, and not likely to be carried into effect. When they leave the Government, if they do leave, which I hope they never may, then will be the time to look out for squalls." Lord Rosebery went on to give the very excellent advice that every effort should be made to give the new Government as large a majority as possible at the next Election.
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