THE IRISH REBELS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3113, 18 June 1917, Page 6

THE IRISH REBELS

: GENERAL AMNESTY GRANTED , GOVERNMENT'S ACTION ACCLAIMED \ ■'■'-. (Kec. ,Tuae 17, 5.5 p.m.) • ■■■■•■ > London, June 15. . ,tn, thft Hniise of Commons, Mr. Bonar : lair said tho Government, after long , and careful consideration, had decided to grant an amnesty to tho Irish rebels. She governing consideration was the.apjiroaching convention, it» which it Was ihoped that Irishmen would settle- the 'difficult problem of tWfuture administration of their country.. This great ex- • "periment marked a nevr era in the relations of Ireland with /the- United Kingdom and the Umpire. It was very desirable they should assemble in an atmosphere of good-will, and the Government therefore decided to remove one cause for serious misunderstanding. He wag inspired by the sanguine hope that: the; action taken would be welcomed in ■" the spirit in whioli it was made, and constitute a good a:ugury for the muchdesired reconciliation. Mr. Joseph v Devlin (Nationalist) expressed gratitude for the amnesty,- but the Government would have been better ■ { advised if it had come to the decision earlier. , :-"The Government would then , have avoided much irritation. Mr. Herbert Samuel said the Goyemnient had arrived at a wise decision, tfhicli would be regarded, as an. earnest; 3f the Government's desire to end the-' \ long period of quarrel between the two, , peoples. Colonel C. E. Wardle (Unionist) said! he hoped'the past would 6e forgotten. ( ' The .House then adjourned.—Aus.-N.Z.jj Cable Assn. . ;j