On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday the House of Commons continued
the consideration of the Home Rule Bill in Committee. The earlier parts of the debate were concerned with the question of the supremacy of the Im- perial Parliament, and it resolved itself eventually into an almost metaphysical argument as to the meanings and implications of the word "supremacy." Mr. Asquith declared that in case of necessity the British Parliament would not hesitate to exercise authority over the Irish Parliament, but at the same time anything in the nature of constant grand- motherly supervision was not to be thought of. If there were ever a collision between the two Parliaments the Courts of Law would uphold the overriding authority of the former. This idea was derided by Mr. Balfour, who pointed out that we could not force our decisions upon the Dominion Parlia- ments, and that this showed the value of the supposed safe- guard provided in the BilL The Government wanted the public to think that if injustice were done in Ireland the Imperial Parliament would interfere; but every one knew that this was false.
Previous page
