IRISH CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2833, 26 July 1916, Page 7

IRISH CRISIS

MR. ASQUITH DROPS THE BILL THREAT BY MR. REDMOND i " —— ■■ MR. LLOYDGEORGE REPLIES A LAST OPPORTUNITY .' Australian-New Zealand. Cable Association. (Eeutcr's Teleffram.) (Rec. July 25, 8.50 p.m.) London, July 25. In the House of Commons, Mr. As- • quith announced that ho did not propose to introduce the Irish Bill, as there did not appea ra prospect of substantial agreement between all parties. Hejpointed out that tho agreement was-subject to approval and revision by tho Cabinet. In this connection two questions had i emorged: ITirst, the form of the oxclu- : sion of Ulster. All parties were agreed ', that inclusion should not be automatic. The Government could not do inoro than make that sure. Seooudly, after full examination, the members of the Government felt that they could not themselves agroe, or expect tho House to agree, ;' that the full number ■of Irish members, should be retainod iu tho House of Com. rnons after an election, except where : consideration of tho Homo Rulo or an Amending Bill was concerned. Mr. Asquith's announcement was a reply to Mr.i Redmond's inquiry if tho Government intended to depart from tho terms of its agreement on Mr. Lloyd George's proposals, or to insert proposals ! at varianco with the Agreement without 1 consulting tho Nationalists. \ Mr. John Redmond (Leader of the Jj'ish Party) thereupon moved the - adjourn, ment, to call attention to tho rapidly growing unrest in Ireland, and to tho fact that the Government does : not propose to carry out in their'entirety, tho terms submitted for the tomporary settlement. . The Negotiations. Mr. Redmond said that ho wished to ■make a dispassionate statement of facts. After Mr. Asquith's return froin Ireland and Mr. Lloyd George's negotiations, everyone was thrilled with the hopo that the Irish question would be put ont of the way until the war had concluded. Mr. Lloyd George's proposals .-we're, in no senio his or Sir Edward Carson's proposals. The Government, two months ago, had urged tho necessity for quick decision, and tho agreement was, in the ■ words of Mr. Asquith, "for a. provisional settlement until tho war was over." That was the chief feature of tho plan, without which neither ho nor his colleagues would have .considered it. The agreement was plain and unmistakable, that the Amending Bill should remain in force during the continuance of tho war and for a year afterwards. When Sir Edward Carson objected that the six "Ulster counties-should thus automatically como into ill© .Homo Rule Act if Parlia-' ment took no steps within a year after the war, the Nationalists assented to tho addition of a provision that the duration of the Amending Bill should be extended by Order-in-Council until Pnijlia-ment had dealt with tho six counties. Tho Nationalists did-not desire to coerce any Ulster county which objected to Home Rule, but never contemplated the idea that this great question should be foreclosed and settled now."

Another fundamental proposal was that during the period of transition the num,ber of Irish members of the Houso of Commons should not bo reduced. "On the. very day I returned to London I was faced by Lord Lansdowne's 'proposal that a clause should bo inserted in tho Bill providing for'the full maintenance of the Imperial authority ovo- the Army-and .Navy. Though this matter was fully covered by the 1914 Act, rather than break down the agreement I assented to a declaratory clause of the kind Lord Lansdowuo desired. I believed that all obstacles to the immediate introduction of tho Bill had been but like a bolt from the blue camo Lord Lansdowne's speech in tho House of Lords, declaring that the Bill would make certain structural alterations to' tho 1914 Act which would bo permanent and endurable. ' ' "Sonio days later I received an extraordinary message from Cabinet,' stating that a number of new proposals had been brought forward, and when I asked tlie nature of these proposals I was informed that Cabinet did not desire to consult' me until an agreement had been reached. I received the next communication on Saturday, when Sir. Lloyd ,George and Mr. Samuel requested me to call at the War Office, and 6aid thai: Cabinet had' decided to insert two entirely new provisions in the Bill. Ono provided for the permanent exclusion of,tho , Ulster counties, and the other out out of the draft Bill the provision for tho attendance of tho Irish members in full forco al: Westminster during the transitory period. I was given to understand that this decision was absolutej and final.'Tbo Government's action is bound to increase Trish suspicion as to tho good faith of British statement?."" ;.'. If, ho added, the Government introduced a Bill on the lines communicated to him, ho worild oppose 'it at every stage. Henceforward tho Nationalists would feel it to be their duty, to exercise an independent judgment, criticising the ever-increasing vacillation ' and procrastination which seemed to form the entire policy of the Government, not only in reference to Ireland, but with regaTd to the-ivholo conduct of tho wdr. Mr. Lloyd George Speaks. Mr;- Lloyd: George': "Mr. .Redmond's narrative is substantially . accurate except, in one or two particulars. I had hoped that tho agreement had only broken' down temporarily. (Nationalist laughter.) It would bo disastrous if, iii the middle of a great war, we should bo: diverted from giving our wlinlo energies to tho prosecution of-the war by the necessity of discussing a-matter . of domestic strife. I agree with Mr. ltedmond that tho arrangement should be provisional, and.(ho whole situation reviewed at tho end of the war. It was contemplated that a conference reprosenl- . ing tho whole of tho self-governing Do- . uiinions should discuss tho final settlement, not that a conference should decide—as only tho Imperial Parliament ' could decido—but that wo should luivo tho ; assistance and tho experience of the colonies. .It'was also made perfectly clear that the Ulster counties Ishoulil never, automatically, be included." Nationalist cries: No! No! Mr. Lloyd George: "That was in accordance with tho terms Mr. Asquilh announced in tho House of Conynons." Jlr. Redmond: "The intention of all of us was that tho provisional arrangement should remain in existence until file permanent settlement had finally been determined." Mr. Lloyd Georgo: "Under no conditions were the six Ulster counties to come under the Home.. Rule Government ■ against their will." The present agreement, he added, had'fallen through, not because of any difference in substance, but because they, could not arrive at a form of words which would onablo tho agreement to bo carried out. Jlr. Redmond: "Why not put tho form of words approved by ourselves and Sir Edward Carson into tho Bill?" Mr. Lloyd George: "There is a great difference between the drafting of a form of words on foolscap containing the heads of a settlement and tho drafting of an Act of Parliament." Referring to the Irish representation nt Westminster, Mr. Lloyd Georgo admitted that tho head of the settlement had been departed from. This was dono bocauso the • Unionist Cabinet Ministers had found it quite imlossiblo to support a proposal which naiiitaincd .Irishmen in undiminished lumbers in the Imperial Parliament. \fter a general election, it might mako 11 the difference between a Liberal and 'nionist Government. (Loud Nationalist leers, and cries: "This is patriotism and 'o party! What about the. war?") "Now," Mr. Lloyd Georgo continued, the Unionists said that this would' be ost unfair. I have never deviated from ,

the cardinal point that the Ulster countio.3 must definitely be struck out of the Homo Rule Act." If, ho added, a subsequent Parliament desired to put them in again, with the goodwill of Ulster, or by coercion* Parliament could do'so. The Nationalists knew the unanimous decision of Cabinet now. "It would bo a good day for Ireland'if Mr. Redmond and myself, were to shako hands on the floor of tho 'House—(loud cheers)—but, if thi9 bo done, there must be no idea of coorcing Ulster. Let Ulster be bodily struck: out of tho Bill, and let tho Nationalists win over Ulster, if they can." The Ulster Loader. Sir Edward Carson said that ho felt that the coercion of Ulster would be impossible W'hon Ulsterraen and Dublin Fusiliers had died in tho trenches side by side. ,He would • have been a faithless oitizen, and a faithless son of the Empire, if he had refused to enter into these negotiations. . • "I am quite sure," 6aid he, "that at the end of tho wnr wo shall have had enough of fighting. We will havo to consider great questions concerning tlio reconstruction of tho wholo Empire, and- the whole basis of society. There will bo financial difficulties so grave that I don't liko to contemplate them, and it will enormously increase our difficulties if our old Irish quarrels are resumed." Mr. Win. O'Brien (Independent Nationalist) taunted tho Redinondites for running away from tho substance of their agreement owing to Irish pressure. Ireland would never forget that tho Eedmondites had agreed to separate her six richest and most historic counties, and one-third of her \rholo population. If the plot had succeeded, it would havo boon the death sentence of tho constitutional movoment in Ireland. Mr. Asquith's Reply. Mr. Asquith acknowledged tho loyal and patriotic attitude of the Nationalists during the war, and then'addressed the Eedmondites directly.' "You have the opportunity to consent to all members of the Coalition Government bringing Home Rule into immediate operation. Are you going to throw away that opportunity? Thai is tho question. Tho war has united all parties.' The common desire to concentrate all our enorgies upon tho success of our arms has made Irishmen'of all shades of opinion look with nausea and disgust upon any possible recurrence of internccino strifo Contrary to all wishes aJid all prepossessions, my Unionist colleagues have agreed that Home Rulo shall, conic into immediate operation. It was part of the agreement that tho six counties should I be excluded. I considor tho exclusion of tho six counties tho greatest give-and-take arrangement ever made in political history." Mr. Asquith asked tho House, and, if necessary, tho country, whether the Government's proposals wero not fair. As an ardont Homo Eulej\ he ibogged the Nationalists not to break tho negotiations, and on behalf of tho Government repeated Sir Edward Carson's appeal not to allow tho present . pportunity to slip away, which would redound to Ireland's good, and promoto the strength and safety of tho Empire. Mr. Redmond's motion was negatived. |T?ho first three opening paragraphs of this report are via Router's Agency. The balance by the Australian and- New Zealand Cable Association.] x RESIGNATIONS IN THE AIR MR. LLOTD GEORGE AND MR. ASQUITH. (Reuter's Telegram.) (Rec. July 26, 0.55 a.m.) ' London, July 25. The "Daily News" states that - Mr. Lloyd George has offered to resign, in view of the Irish controversy. It is understood that Mr. Asquith's attitude, if Mr. Jjloyd George resigns, will be that he will consider himself bound to rosign also. Tho matter is not being discussed, but the situation of tho Coalition Govern-, inent has not improved.

r ENEMY'S PROPERTY IN BRITAIN

SIX AND A HALF MILLIONS INVESTED, Australian-New Zealand Cable AssociationLondon, July 24. In the House of Commons, Mr. Lewis Harooui't stated that the value of ene,my property vested in the Public Trusteewas ; that vested in the Board of Trade amounts to .£2,000,000.

CASEMENT'S APPEAL REFUSED

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. ' London, July 24. ' The Attorney-General has refused Case, 'merit's appeal to the House of Lords.

LIPTON'S, LTD.

BIG DEFICIENCY MADE GOOD. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. • (Rec. July 25, 3 p.m.) ..London, July 24. On August 24 last year it was reported that there was an angry meeting of Lipton's, Ltd., -shareholders, when a deficit of .£250,000 Wiis reported. This, tho chairman announced, Sir Thomas Lipton would replace. Jt js. now stated that Sir Thomas Lipton has handed over tho sum of ;E247,f100. TLipton's, ■■ Ltd., report showed discrepancies in certdiu stocks and losses in certain investments. Costs incurred in litigation had diverted a, substantial amount of working capital.. ,The. director 'recommended a special provision of 0C220,889 for depreciation, etc.!