GERMANY'S HAND IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 26, 25 October 1917, Page 5

GERMANY'S HAND IN IRELAND

GRAVE SEDITION DISCLOSED

DEBATE IN BRITISH PARLIAMENT REBELLION PLOT (Rec. October 24, 7.40 p.m.) ; London, October 23. In the House of Commons, Mr. John Redmond (Irish Nationalist Leader) moved that the House deplore the Irish Executive's policy, and also the Irish military policy, especially in. view ot the necessity of creating on atmosphere favourable to Hie Convention now sitting. Mr. Eedmond eaid that the Irish situation was extremely grave, and only the success of the Convention would prevent a period of chaos and anarchv that would be without precedent for a century. The existing policy involved tie greatest danger to the Convention, it was widely believed in Ireland that certain people in England and Ireland would gladly see the Convention destroyed, hoping that Ireland's last hope of self-gov-ernment would perish in the resultant anarchy, and perhaps bloodshed. He acquitted the Irish Unionists of any responsibility for this condition of atfairs. The proceedings at the Convention had been without any bitterness, and tho discussions had now Teacheda critical stage. Many of tho note of the authorities amounted to irritating provocations, and this was causing the growtii of Sinn Feinisni. He moved his motion in order to urge Mr. Duke (the Irish Secretary) to exercise controlling powers. Mr. Duke replied that every act and policy were justified, otherwise- order would not have been maintained. lhe Government's one desire was to create an atmosphere of goodwill. He pointed to Ireland's present prosperity and her practical immunity, from the misery that was afflicting the rest of the world. Yet the Empire's avowed enemies had enrolled two hundred thousand young Irishmen in order to create a now rebellion. Parliament, with unprecedented magnanimity, had considered that until Ireland received her promised measure of self-govern-ment it had not the right to force conscription upon her. The Sinn Feiners j had declined to participate in the Con- j vention, but there had been a hurricane fire of rebel oratory throughout the country. There Imd also been steady ; organisation in every parish of the new rebel force, who had been told that there was a considerable quantity of arms ready, and more when the fatal day came. "Whence come these arms: .lhe helping hand which brought about the rebellion in 191G was Germany's. WVien. it "became necessary in February to deport persons engaged in conspiring it was because Germany's hand had again been held out, and the Government knew it. The Government could not ignore the organisation of this volunteer force or its declared purpose. ' The Sinn Fein leaders aimed to defeat the Convention." A Pledge to Ireland. Mr. Etoyd George (Prime Minister) said j that the situation in Ireland was most difficult and most delicate. Mr. Duke had striven to his utmost to avoid any provocation which would endanger the usefulness of the Convention. De Valera's speeches were cold-blooded incitements to rebellion. It was essential that tho Government should give a clear indication that it would not allow these speeches to be repeated. Germany had once nearly succeded in landing amis in Ireland to aid a rebellion. The Government knew that arrangements were being made by Germany to land arms again from America. There had been a, deliberato attempt to enlist, enrol, and organise hundreds of thousands of young Irishmen preparatory to this rebellion. If these men had been Englishmen they would iiave been compulsorijy enlisted in the Army. The Sinn Feiners' idea of Home Rule was not self-government, but complete secession.' from England. We could not possibly agjee to that. (Cheers.) He would willingly give an undertaking that if the Convention arrived at substantial agreement the Government would use the whole of its power to translate the agreement into an Act of Parliament'. Such a Bill would be carried through imi mediately.

Mr. Dillon interjected: This is Tery important. Will tho Prims Minister pledge the Government that immediately the Convention comes to an agreement it will embody it in a Bill and pass it through Parliament as soon as possible? Mr. Lloyd George: Certainly. This hae always been the Government's intention. Mr. AsnuitH hoped that nothing would bo dona to d.rfeat the Convention. Mr. Redmond's motion was defeated by 211 votes to 78—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.