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Show 'BRITISH WOMEN TO BE GRANTED EOIJIGHTS Lloyd George Makes Declaration Dec-laration in House of Commons Com-mons in Favor of Suffrage. LOXDOX, March 23, 11:25 p. m. After au interesting debate today, the house of commons, by a majority of 279, expressed the approval- of legislation legisla-tion on the lines of the speaker's conference con-ference recommendations for franchise reform. The small minority against such a measure represented not the actual ac-tual opponents of reform, but rather members who were desirous of postponing postpon-ing legislation of such a contentious character until after the war. The great feature of the debate was the frank acceptance by Ex-Premier Asquith and Andrew Bonar Law, chancellor chan-cellor of the exchequer, of women's right to vote as a result of their war sacrifices and services, and Premier Lloyd George 's whole-hearted acceptance accep-tance of the conference recommendations, recommenda-tions, except proportional representation. representa-tion. He was even willing to go still further and make the qualifying period three, instead of six, months. A small party in the commons expressed ex-pressed their continued firm opposition to women 's suffrage, but their numbers num-bers were too small to carry great weight. The Nationalists announced that they would support Mr. Asquith 's motion. Will Come as Amendments. As a result of the debate, the government, govern-ment, as Mr. Bonar Law announced, will proceed with legislation to givo effect to the recommendations of the conference. The bill will embody all of the recommendations except proportional propor-tional representation and women's suffrage. suf-frage. These will be omitted, first, because be-cause the government is still undecided on the question and, second, because it is held that parliament must first of all express acceptance of the principle of women 's suffrage. The present idea is to make the bill as little contentious as possible, so that the second reading may be easily secured; se-cured; then, in committee, these two excepted questions may be raised as amendments to the bill, thus giving the house an opportunity to record its opinion. opin-ion. Opposition Dwindling. It cannot be doubted that the views expressed today by Mr. Asquith, Walter Wal-ter Hume Long and other prominent former opponents of women 's suffrage will influence many others opposing it, and, in any case, 'during the war this opposition has been a rapidly dwindling one. It is still possible that the women may have to wait until after the war for' the fullest recognition of their claims, but the vote for women in some shape is now certain. The new bill will not be introduced until some considerable con-siderable time after Easter, as the budget and other urgent business claim priority. Andrew Bonar Law, addressing himself him-self to the conservative opponents of the recommendations of the speaker's conference, said he had always held the view that the conservative party, which was not a national party, might as well go out of business altogether. New World After War. There was going to be a new world after the war, and it was certain at least that no party need attempt to exist ex-ist which could not hope to have the support of the men and the bulk of the nation which had saved the liberties liber-ties of the empire. If there could then be a better understanding between all classes in the recognition that increased production was for the benefit of all the recoverv from the devastation of war would be quick. The war, Mr. Bonar Law declared, bad altered his view on the subject of women's suffrage, and ho would do his best to prevent being left out any extension ex-tension of the franchise to men or women. Mr. Salter's amendment was rejected 341 to fi2. and Mr. Asquith 's motion was carried. |