IRISH SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2206, 20 July 1914, Page 5

IRISH SITUATION

CABINET MEETINGS FOUR DURING THE WEEK OPTIMISTIC FEELING • REGARDING AMENDING BILL By Telecraph—.Press Aesociation—Gopyricht London, July 17. The Msh League of "'America lias cabled,MY. Redmond that £20,000 has been subscribed towards the Nationalist funds. Two Cabinet meetings were held today, making four for the week, chiefly on the Irish question. "•■ _ ■ An optimistic feeling prevails in the lobbies owing to the important conferences regarding the Amending Bill. Tho "Westminster Gazette" says:— "We have- good'reasons for believing that the negotiations for a settlement in Ulster are taking what'we may fairly call a normal course." The "Birmingham Post" declares that it is convinced that the present atmosphere makes for settlement. • The Irish Nationalist Presses now more cheerful than it has been for weeks past._ It is assumed that Mr.'Redmond has received a promise from the' Ministry that a "dean cut" will ,not be conceded. The Nationalists are still gun-run r ning on the Western coast: THE DEMAND FOR EXCLUSION. ■ . . i. .- NO AGREEMENT REACHED.■". ■(■ London, July 18: •'•' After the, second Cabinet meeting, the Government's .views on the demand for Ulster's exclusion were, submitted to the Unionists for the front honchsfs to' form, a counter proposal. \ The front \bcnchers' reply showed that an agreement was not reached. The situation is unchanged.. . "Tlie Premier (Mr. Asquith) had half an hour's :iudienco with the King. CABINET OFFER. ' ' ! UNIONIST LEADERS INSIST ON • CLEAN CUT. (Rec'July 19, 5.5-' p.m.) •'■ London, July 18. Cabinet has decided to tentatively move towards the abandonment of the. time limit in regard to the exclusion of Ulster;.and has resolved to offer to allow.Antrim,' Down, Londonderry, and Armagh to' vote.as a whole for or against exclusion, and, further, is prepared to consider grouping with this' area; certain Protestant portions of Tyrone and 'Armagh,' but the Nationalists are insistent on the retention of the whole of Tyrone. ' ■'■" Tho "Morning Post'' (Unionist) says that a minority, consisting of Mr. Win T ston Churchill, Sir Edward Grey, Mr. Lewis Harcourt, and tho Marquis of Crowe, and possibly one or two influen-tial-members, favour a.clean cut of six counties. The majority, including Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd Georgo ; refuso to consider .concessions to which Mr. Redmond (the Nationalist Leader) does not agree. The latter refuses to consider any' terms not including county : option, while' the Unionist leaders are as determined as ever in insisting on a clean cut.',- ■ '■"••'' ''-, Tho "Daily News". (Liberal) confirms the Government's offer to abandon the time limit if, tho Unionists will abandon' tho demand for a clean' cut.' A deadlock lias been'feached over Tyrone.'NATIONALIST VOLUNTEERS. , • ARMS AND THE DOLLARS. • (Rec. July 19, 6.5 p.m.) -. . . ! N London, July 19.. ■ The "Daily Mail" states that someAmerican Army, officers are training tho Nationalist volunteeTi, with! the cooperation of several ex-British Army officers/ _ _ ..._.--■. Replying to tlie Irish-American offer to send fifteen hundred well-drilled and equipped ex-soldiers,, tho Dublin Committee states, that.'thes© are not wanted at tlio present stage,' and has suggested that each should contrlbuea dollar to the arms fund. Other accounts state that tho Nationalisti volunteers are organising on a war basis, and that Colonel Moore, com-mander-in-chief, and a systematic staff, are engaged in organisation. NO SURRENDER. - ATTITUDE OF THE GOVERNMENT. (Rec. July 20, 1.5. a.m.) London, July 19. Many dispatches were exchanged between Buckingham Palace and Downing Street on Saturday! The King delajed liis departure for Portsmouth until late hi the afternoon, when tho Primo Min : ister (Mr. .Asquith) accompanied. him. Sir Honry Lucy, writing in the "Observer," says that the Government will decline tho clean-cut and will seek to restore tho Amending Homo Rule Bill to something liko.its original shape! He predicts the possibility of a conference of both lioiisos over the amendments. Tho President of the Board of Agri-culture-(Mr. Runciman), speaking at Batloy said! that Homo Rule was assured. It would ho impossible for either a Liberal or a Conservative Government to withhold it. The Government, however, -would not surrender under! any pressure. Sorno of those w'lio participated.in tho House of Lords debate spoke as though they were still supremo, whereas they ougnt to havo realised that their supremacy was now over. '