THE ULSTER CRISIS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1900, 7 November 1913, Page 7

THE ULSTER CRISIS.

BASIS OF CONFERENCE.

A BROAD HINT.

STEADY RESISTANCE TO THE LAW.

By Tclcgrask—Fims AssooiaMon-GopjriiiM

London, November 6. cu Ir" ?• Smith, M.P., speaking at otafrord, said that if the Government endorsed the action of Messrs, Redmond and Devlin in dee-lining to accept Homo Rule for Ireland unless Ulster were in« eluded, it might save itself from wasting breath over a. conference.

' Times"—Sydney' 'SW Special Cables.

London, November 6, Speaking at Belfast Sir Edward Carson said: "The business iiiea af Ulster have takon a groat step forward. They have clasped the Bands of democracy in a firm determination to march forward together. What they meant was unflinching,- steady, determined, and continuous obstruction to the law, in order to make Government under Home lUIIO absolutely impossible.

Says the "Observer" (Unionist)lt is no longer denied in any reputable Ministerial quarter that there is an Ulster problemUnionists on their side ,ir-Q prepared to consider large aftd even sweeping changes in tfio Government of the remainder of Ireland. But again tto theory of Irish settlement can bo discussed without considering its effect npon the structure of the Imperial Parliament and the future of British politics, at large. It fcllews that any arrangement between part'es ought also to provide for the f'utUfe of the Second Chamber and the re-establishment of the Constitution as a whole upon a basis acceptable to the vast majority of the nation without difference of party. Now the genoral reeognitien of' these truths means in itself a far mors promts* ing improvement in the state of public thought than has yet., been realised. Would it not be well to consider seriously tho arguments for and again a federal schemo for the whole realm ? This would involve the total reconstruction of local government throughout the United King' oom;_and with a new Second Chamber, wielding an influence which the House of Lords as it stands is incapable of exercising, the Imperial Parliament, might be niado more worthy of that name-. "Assume that when Parliament meets again all moderate appeals have been disregarded, that nothing remains before us but the supreme struggla between parties exerting all their reseurees. Since by mere expostulation and appeal a general election is unlikeiy to be secured, can it be forced? Wo think it can. There would have to be a determination day after day to stop all public business and to hold up tho House of Commons. The House of Lords, in tho same way, would have to refuse to pas 3 any legislation. There would have to bo a most determined attempt to break up the Territorial Arifiy by withdrawing Unionists from its ranks. Even in Great Britain a large number of Unionists eould refuse to pay income tax .on the perfectly solid plea that conscience forbade them to contribute to the subjection of Ulster; and a great guarantee fund ought to bo raised in support of these passivo registers. Once a straggle of that kind were opened, events would bo hastened in Ulster. Tlie Covenanters would be under arms—though doubtless in the first stage without conflict er disorder—by Easter nest year." '