IRISH AFFAIRS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2781, 27 May 1916, Page 7

IRISH AFFAIRS

MR. ASQUITH'S STATEMENT

SETTLEMENT EFFORTS

LLOYD GEORGE AS MEDIATOR

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, May 25. "ho House of Ccmnions was crowded, and tho* gathering listened to tho frisk statomeiityvith 'the intensest interest. Lord Uimborne was in the Peers' Gallery. Mr. Asquith said if the statement wa9 made oh the Consolidated L r unds liill a general debate would be impossible. He asked tho indulgence of the Houso to say. a few words beioro the Orders of the Day. Mr. O'Brien asked whether'there would "') an opportunity fpi debate. Tho Speaker: -Not tin that part of tho statement relating to civil government; but on that respecting the military; Several mainbarsi 1 wish to move the adjournment.

Air, Asquith said tho Government did not desiro.to burk discussion. On the contrary, it was most anxious that it should occur, but ho was not certain that any discussion could bo fruitful until the inquiry now. proceeding had .finished/ Meantime the Government's primary duty Was to restore order and prevent a recurrence of the disturbances. He rejoiced that thero was overwhelming evidence that the great bulk-of Irish opinion of all creeds and parties had no sympathy, with tho recent ill-advised undertaking; Mr.- Asquith, proceeding, said that mar. tial lair'- would be continued ,as a procautionary measure, but he hoped that it would bo - abolished speedily and completely. The composition of the Irish "Executive must for the timo being bo provisional. Ha feared that a general debate' now would tend to create an atmosphere unfavourable to the appeal which his col. leagues and himself unitedly felt it was their duty to make»without delay. His visit to Ireland was: intended that he • should get a iirst-liahd view of the whole situation. - Ho saw with his own eyes the heartrending desolation which unhappy, and misguided men had wrought over a largo area in Dublin. 'He visited- and talked ivith tho utmost freedom to lualiy of the arrested men. He had put himself in touch w-ith representatives of all shades. *of Irish ' opinion with a single desireto get the truth. ■

Mr. Asquith said there were two main dominant impressions on his mind—tho breakdown ol' tho existing machinery, and the strength, depth, and universality of the feeling ill 1 reland. There was aflorded mow a unique opportunity 'for the settlement of outstanding problem's, and a joint and combined effort, with a view to obtaining respecting the future government of Ireland.: The- moment, no considered, was a peculiarly opportune one. A great reason for this opinion was that' Irish of all "creeds and classes who responded with alacrity to the call to the trenches on the battlefields would be for'ever consecrated in the memory of Ireland equally with Britain. No one could tolerate after tho war tho prospect of Irishmen- being ranged against one another in the most tragic and do--1 basing of all combats—;ui internecine and domestic struggle. (Che-ors.) It would b) a confession- of bankruptcy of states, manship and patriotism. (Cheers.) j lie Homo Kulo Act was on the Statute Book. No one had ever contemplated its coercivo application, but what was now ot paramount-importance in the Imperial .emergency.was, if possible, that an agree, ment, which waif tliought*vaih before the war, should be.reached between the repre-, •sentatives of the different interests and purposes in Ireland. The whole Govern.ment was anxious to do everything to facilitate this happy result. Mr.Hoyd Greorgei had undertaken to devote himself to. that end. (Cheers.) Already he had been in communication with the authorised leaders, and in his future negotiations Mr. Lloyd George would carry with him the ardent hope of all members, and something more—namely, the belief that such a vesult could and' ought to be attained. (Cheers.)

Mr. Asquith ( appealed to the House to. abstain fro'nv. ail, 1 linnediato discussion ot the situation and from using .language calculated to increase the serious ;but not insurmountable difficulties lying in the way :of a. • great und : lasting settlement. 1 (Cheers.)", Mr. John Redmond (Leader of the Nationalist Party) said Mr. Asquith's solemn appeal was the test of a genuine desire for settlement. Ho would therefore respond to it. He hoped Mr. Lloyd George's task would be successful.-' Ha would do nothing to thwart it. Mr. O'Brien said ho also was willing to accept Mr. Asquith's advice. Sir Edward Carson agreed to forego debate. The House thereupon emptied. The members crowded into the lobby to discuss the situation. A featuro of the greatest surprise was the announcement of Mr. Lloyd George's mission to arrange a settlement. His Munitions Department is now working smoothly, allowing him spare time.. NEGOTIATIONS BEGUN OPTIMISM IN POLITICAL CIRCLES London, May 25. The Irish negotiations begin immediate! ly. Mr. Lloyd George will closely consult with Mr. Eedmond and Sir Edward Carson. It is believed also that Mr. Lloyd Georga will have the assistance of Sir Herbert Samuel (Home Secretary), Mi. J. Dillon, and Mr. Joseph Devlin. Already informal conversations have been held. Probably a round-table confidential conference will be arranged to, be held at Mr. Lloyd George.'s munitions rooms. ; Optimism prevails in political circles as to t"ho good prospect of a settlement of the vexed question. PRESS COMMENT (Rcc. May 26, 9.25 p.m.) London, May 26. Newspapers welcome the possibility of Mr. Lloyd George finding a solution. . He is expected to visit Ireland possibly to -initiate a joint conference of Irish leaders. LORD HARDINGE'S COMMISSION ORIGIN OF SINN FEINISM (Rec. May 26, 5.5 p.m.) London, Majr 23. - Lord-Hardiuge's Commission, sitting in Dublin, heard evidenco concerning the origin of Sinn Veinism, and the official methods of dealing with sedition. Colonel Sir Neville Chamberlain, In-spector-General of the Royal Irish Constabulary, ill his evidence, said he made various recommendations which li» considered, on the advice of experienced officers, to-be essential for the maintenance of law and order, which the Government in many-cases did. : a4t see fit to adopt. Ho also represonted"the need i'or increased powers under the Defence of the Realm Act. .

Colonel Johnson, Commissioner of Polioe in Dublin, gave evidence that Sll rifles aiid' 785 bayonets were seized at various times in I'ort Dublin. Disloyal volunteers in 1915 stolo a hundred rifles addressed to ,Mr. John Redmond for tho National Volunteers.