Mr. Asquith in his reply began with the Persian question,
describing the situation as "exceedingly unsatisfactory." The Government believed there would be no prospect of improve- ment until the Shah kept his promise and established repre- sentative institutions. But it was not the policy of Britain and Russia to intervene directly. They must exert pressure on the Shah by withholding loans, and by refusing to support him in any way till he abandoned his disastrous policy. Mr. Asquith next defended the Government against the charge of wanton extravagance. He confessed that the "extraordinary figures" as to the working of the Old-Ago Pensions Act in Ireland demanded inquiry, and this was being made. Dealing with the outrages in Ireland, he did not attempt to palliate the " deplorable conditions " in certain parts of the country. The arm of the law should never be slack in reaching the guilty persons. But in his opinion the facts did not point to any weakness in the administration. No Chief Secretary had ever tried to make out a case for a Coercion Act unless he had a "very much blacker list of crime " than there was in Ireland now.
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