HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1428, 1 May 1912, Page 5

HOME RULE.

BRITAIN NOT CONSISTENT. CUSTOMS' BARRIER CERTAIN. By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. (Hoc. April 30, 9.35 p.m.) London, April !iO. Lord Sclborne, in a speech nt Aberdeen, referring to Hie argument that the weight of opinion in the .-■elf-governins Dominions favoured Home Rule, snid that the Dominions did not appreciate Iho immense difference between the application of a principle to a colony GOOO miles from Britain, and an inland .s-ixty miles distant; they also misunderstood the complication of the problem by Ulster's antagonism. Tlio Dominions' opinions wore more pronounced on TnrilV Reform than on Homo Rule, llonghly speaking, there wns no eueh thng as Free-trade in the Dominions. Britain could not consistently base her Ilome Kule policy on tlio opinion of the Dominions, meanwhile, barring the door in tlio face of their tariff reform views. Union Into Federation. "Pacificus," in "The Times," states tlio Home Rule. Bill will inevitably bo read after a period of increasing friction and ill-feeling. To grant full colonial independence to Ireland would 1)0 impossible, as it would transform the union into a federation by stages. If the Bill attempts this middlo course, it would mean the shipwreck of the party or nation accepting it. The Bill is certain to entail the erection of a Customs barrier which has hitherto been the aim of all confederations to abolish. Dr. Chappie's Suggestion. Speaking at the National Liberal Club, Dr. Chappie, M.P. for Stirlingshire, suggested that after Homo Rule all round was granted, Ulster should be given the option by referendum of belonging to tho jurisdiction of tho Scottish. Parliament,