IRISH SETTLEMENT ISSUE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2832, 25 July 1916, Page 5

IRISH SETTLEMENT ISSUE

BISHOP OF LIMERICK AND THE OPPOSITIONISTS 'Australian-New Zealand., Cable Association. • London, July 23. The Bishop of Limerick, in. a strong letter replying to a communication'from the oommittee which has been formed in Belfast to oppose Mr. Lloyd ■ George's proposals, says:— "I can wall understand your anxiety and. indignation "at the proposals of your own political Isadora cut you off Irom your country. I liavo very little pity for you, becauso you acquiesced ' to a kind of political servitude, in which your function was to shout party shibboleths. Xou ceased to bo men, and your leaders consequently think they can sell you like chattels..- Our poor country is mode a thing, for truck and barter in Liberal clubs. I doubt ■ greatly whether the partition scheme will becomo law. We have piled such a mountain of debt and taxation upon Ireland that it becomes a matter of indifference whether wo aro included or not".

A CRISIS REACHED SIR HORACE PLUNICET ON THE .. SCHEME. (Rec. July 24, 10.50 p.m.) London, July 24. The Irish negotiations have reached a crisis. The Nationalists contend that the 'Amending Bill should not go beyond tho written agroemcnt made with Sir. Lloyd Georec. They, declare that they havo rc- . ceivea information that the Governments proposals do go beyond these written terms, and that the proposals cannot bo accepted'. The Nationalists meet toMay, when a final decision is expected. Sir Horace Plunket ha 9 written an outspoken letter begging Ministers not to imperil her existence by' attempting to. impose -upon Ireland a settlement she doesn't want and won't accept. "Becausa Sir Edward Carson and Mr. Kedmond have endorsed Mr. Lloyd George's schcnio the British public belioves that the opposition is confined to rebels who want a republic, and myopic Unionists who won't see that Homo Rule is the law of tho land. The rtal opposition.to the scheme comes from, the great body of moderate Irish opinion, whioh accepts Ilomo Rule in prinoiple, but considers that its application at the present juncture 'would bo mischievous and inoppoitiino. At any open, unfettered convention of any four provinces, Mr. Lloyd George's proposals would simply be. howled down. Tho schema has merits. The idea of calling in statesmen from the self-governing Dominions. aftor tho war to aid in shaping a permanent policy for Ireland is a valuable Inspiration, but the rest of the scheme, including the premature and nn'natural partition of the country and the establishment of'an Irish Parliament without consulting the Irish, electorate, hopelessly/damns it* The Government's scheme won't get Ireland out of tho way. On the contrary, the scheme would play directly into the hands <jf tho most violent section of tho Slim Pom group. "Tho situation demands'that a provisional and wholly Irish system of admin' istratkm be formed to carry on tho Irish' Government for the duration of the war without prejudice to the solution of tho major problem which may be' found possible hereafter. Such aii administration must Test on the postulates that Horns Rule 18 inevitable, and that at least as much' as it now conceded mnst .be absolutely guaranteed thq Nationalists. Secondly, Ulster must noti and cannot bo coerced. lam . sure that such a solution : would be .accepted by a United Ireland with relief and. gratitude, and I: believe that Sir Edward Carson and, Mr. Redmond would now be glad to consider any workable alternative to the 6cliem© so embarrassingly put before them on behalf of the Cabinet"