Mr. Asquith gave practically no information as to the details
of the Government's programme for the Session. In the course of some references to the Insurance Act he alluded to the prediction made earlier in the evening by Mr. Bonar Law that it would never come into operation. What, asked Mr. Asquith, was to prevent it P Would Mr. Bonar Law, if and when he came into power, repeal the Act? To this direct challenge Mr. Bonar Law replied, " Certainly," though we may remark that, in a subsequent letter to the Press, he has somewhat qualified this declaration. Mr. Asquith concluded his speech with an indignant denial that,. any public money bad been spent for party propaganda pure poses in connexion with the Insurance Bill; and further protested against the accusations made against the Govern- ment by Mr. Bonar Law at the Albert Hall in connexion with the creation and filling of new official posts. It was a charge of corruption, declared Mr. Asquith, that must in honour be prosecuted by its maker on the floor of the House of Commons and in the face of the country.
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