29 FEBRUARY 1896, Page 3

The figures brought forward by Mr. Gerald Balfour showed that

the Evicted Tenants question was never a large one, and is rapidly settling itself. The reason why so much fuss is made about the evicted tenants is simple enough. The Irish leaders promised the evicted tenants that if they would strike against rent for political objects, they would never abandon them. The Irish leaders, through lack of funds, have been obliged to abandon the evicted tenants, and they are now trying to make the British Government honour the bills they drew from 1880 to 1886. As Mr. Gerald Balfour said, let the Irish people raise the necessary funds themselves. In the end, the Bill was rejected by 97 votes (271 to 174).