4 APRIL 1914, Page 14

MR. ASQUITH'S PRIME BLUNDER.

[To an Eons. or vas "SPscrsms."]

SIE,—I have just been reading your article of last week beaded "Mr. Asquith's Prime Blunder," which seems to me to deal fully with the situation, except that it omits any refer- ence to the person uho is directly responsible for the Prime Minister's blunder. Is not the Chief Secretary for Ireland, when a member of the Cabinet, the person who is responsible for keeping the Prime Minister informed of the real condition of things in Ireland, of which country he is the real ruler when the Lord-Lieutenant is not a member of the Cabinet P If so, should not the blame rest on Mr. Birrell, and not on Mr. .Asquith, for the failure of this policy, "Wait and See" P-