LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
HOME RULE AND THE ROYAL VETO. L're 1115 EDIT., or rue smoviroa-J Sin,—Irish Unionists assert that the so-called safeguards in the Home Rule Bill are worthless. This view has suddenly found the strongest confirmation in some of those leading journals which support the Irish policy of the Government. The chief of these " safeguards " is the provision that the Lord-Lieutenant will give or withheld the Royal Assent to Bills, but (a) he has to comply with instructions given by the Imperial Government in respect of any Bill, and (6) he has to postpone giving assent if the Imperial Government so direct. The Imperial Parliament conferred Constitutions upon Canada, Australia, and South Africa. Under each of these the Governor-General has powers precisely similar to those pro. posed to be given to the Lord-Lieutenant under this Bill, and under the Australian and South African Constitutions similar powers are reserved to the Imperial Government. Yet we find the following in a leading article in last Saturday's Daily Chronicle Any suggestions of interference by the Imperial Government are idle. South Africa is mistress of her own destinies. For Lord Gladstone to withhold assent to the Indemnity Bill would be as unconstitutional as for King George to refuse his assent to a measure passed by the British Parliament. The veto exists is theory, but is not exercised in fact."
If the veto is not exercised, and if the Imperial Government will not interfere, wherein lies the value of such" safeguards" P Irish Unionists base their opposition to Home Rule upon facts,
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