THE NEW RULE IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2812, 1 July 1916, Page 9

THE NEW RULE IN IRELAND

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS SINN FEIN MENACE AGAIN By Telegraph-Press (Rec. June 30, 5.45 p.m.) ' / ' London, Juno 30. In the Hoiise of Lords to-day the Ma.--quis of Salisbury moved,' 1 after notice, to ask the Government to publisu Mr,' Lloyd George's proposals in regard 10 the Irish settlement; also to disclose tin nature of Lord Hardinge's Committed .report;, and, thirdly, to. give .the Hotuo the . latest', information, regarding -the spread of. disaffection in the three southern province's of Ireland. ' Vhe Marquis of Crewe (Lord President of the council) deprecated a public disclosure, as being likely to do harm to our national unity of mind .it Hie present '-juncture. Viscount Midleton insisted on the gravity of a step . which would • grant governmental powers to an Irish Assembly. If an election were held now, Mr. R«ilnond (the Nationalist Leader) would not bring back one-third .of his followiu;?, and the result would be a pro-German majority.. While the Government wai talking, the German army in Ireland was growing. ...

The Marquis of Lansdowue said that it was premature to discuss the matter. There were no proposals yet. Ho add,ed: "The Government lias certainly authorised consultations, but is in nowise" bound to accept the proposals." ME. ASQUITH DECLINES TO BE '' DRAWN. -' By Telegrap'c-Press Association-Copyright ';.. . London, June 29. Mr.' Asquith,- in the House of'Com-J. mons, refused to'be drawn as to whether two of his colleagues had resigned. LOBBY, AWD PRESS GOSSIP. ; (Rec. June 30, 6.55 p.m.) " - • London, Juue 30. The debate in. the House oi"Lords disposes of the rumours that Lord Lansdowno has lesigned.. Apparently, tho whole question of the' Irish..settlemeu. is still in the melting-pot. ' 'Mr. Lloyd George's proposals only came beforo, Cabinet after the Whitsuntide holidays, and the Government's examination of them has not yet concluded. • The Marquis of Crewe incidentally e'±-' plained that Mr. Lloyd George's proposals were the suggestions of a media-, tor, not the terms of an arbitrator. A 'feature of the debate was Lord Salisbury's and Lord Midleton's description of ;.tho:!.:conditioii-ofl-Jreland,of !whi<shthe public is wholly ignorant. , Tho speakers said that the position of tho loyalists—both Unionists and Nationalists—was Incoming very precarious, la many parts of the country tho Sinu Fe-n ; movement was becoming the dominant faith, and in three of the Nationalist provinces matters .were daily, growing worse, because th§.people believed that, the Government', was about to-make a complete surrender. Lord Salisbury stated that a number of rebels who' had been released from prison, had'returned to Ireland wearing, their Sinn Fein uniforms, and wero now organising'the-country against the Government.

Public opinion-is unable to understand the position. of' the Irish negotiations. The newspaper comments reflect the general doubt. The "Daily News" comments on Lord Lansdojtne's.caution:-"lt..is evident that he realises' the gravity of the moment." The "Daily Mail;"' however, protests against Lord Lan'sdowne's spee'eh as being "most mischievous, and calculated to cause grave doubt's in Ireland as. to! the good faith - of the 'Pritish Government." . . ■ . ....

The "Morning. Post" says: ''It is now' clear that Ministers never imagined that they gave Mr. Lloyd George a freehand to commit them to a cut-and-dried proposal. Mr"' Lloyd George has pledged the Cabinet, without its authority, aad by a hustling trick has sought to rush ■the Irish settlement, but the trick did not come off."

. ~ The . "Times" says:.. "Cabinet is. mak- . ing a" detailed--nnd--critical examination of Mr.. Lloy.d. George's 6cherae, paying particular attention to the condition of Ireland, with the purpose of providing safeguards' and protection for the Unionists in the west and the south, and to ensure that our naval and military efforts will in no way be hampered."