NEWS OF THE WtEli.
fillHE event of the week has been the proposal of a Refer- endum by Mr. Bones Law in the House of Commons on Thursday night. He "formally and solemnly" declared that if the Government would put their new suggestions into the Home Rule Bill and submit them—i.e., the Bill and the sug- gestions—to the voters, no impediment would be raised in the Lords to carrying out completely, without alteration and delay, the decision of the people, if it should be favourable to the Bill. Mr. Asquith cross-examined Mr. Boner Law minutely upon his proposal, and obtained the assent of the Opposition to the following propositions :—(1) A Poll of the People in favour of the Bill would carry with it the authority, if necessary, to coerce Ulster. (2) The Opposition would hold that in that case the Government "would be justified in doing it." (3) The Bill to be submitted was the Bill with the suggested alterations. (4) There would be no plural voting at the Referendum. As to whether Ulster would accept the decision, Mr. Asquith put his question to Sir Edward Carson. Sir Edward replied by asking whether it was "a firm offer." "If so, I will answer it "—meaning, we can only presume, that Ulster would, in that ease, accept the decision.
