The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918. THE IRISH PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 109, 25 January 1918, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 1918. THE IRISH PROBLEM

The Irish Convention has now reached the critical point in its deliberations, and the world will

soon know whether 'it has succeeded or failed. When it was set up many competent'judges ex-

pressed the opinion that it had been given an impossible task, as tho gulf which separated the opposing parties

was too wide and too deep to be bridged. _ It was' felt that anything approaching reconciliation was impossible. Pessimistic views were widespread, and it must bo admitted that they found much justification in the past and present history of Ireland. But there were other people with an intimate knowledge of Irish affairs who refused to despair. They believed that in spite of past failures it. would still be possible to reunite the Irish people and to devise a firm and stable- form of government which would prove acceptable to the great majority. The optimists admitted that the problem was a difficult one, but do- ■ nied that it was insoluble. Everyone agreed that something must be done, that a way must be found to put an end to a situation that had become intolerable. This was the state of public feeling throughout the Empire at tha time when Mr. LiiOYD George determined to convene a conference of Irishmen representing all parties and opinions for the purpose of discovering if possible a settlement by gen'eral consent that would give Ireland a chance of becoming a contented, self-governing member of the family of free nations of which the British Empire is composed. The deliberations of the Convention are now drawing to a close. No information j is at present available as regards the nature of the report which it will place before the Government, but recent cablegrams state that there is a growing belief that a settlement is possible and is not far distant. It is also asserted that the Government will make a great effort in the next few weeks to devise measures of constitutional reform which will inaugurate a new and happier ova in the history of Ireland. The difficulties of the Convention in dealing with the Irish problem have been greatly increased by the

The difficulties of the Convention in dealing with the Irish problem have been greatly increased by the anarchical activities of the Sinn Peiners. It remains to be seen whether this avowedly separatist movement is strong enough to frustrate the endeavours of the Convention to break down the barriers which have so long divided the people of Ireland into hostile camps. Opinions differ with regard to the strength of _ the hold which the Sinn Fein agitation has obtained on the country. In an article in the Nineteenth Century, Mr. Arthur S. Herbert, Deputy-Lieutenant for County Kerry, says the movement is. little more than a demonstration with the object of obtaining the largest possible measure of Dominion selfgovernment. This docs not appear to be an adequate explanation of the objects and methods of these irreconcilables, who have done their utmost to prove that they have no sympathy with the Nationalist programme. Mr. John Dillon recently declared that the Sinn Fein leaders by their language and conduct were doing everything in their power to justify the bitterest charges ever made by Orangemen against the Irish Party and the Nationalists of Ireland. Referring to the statement iiat the Sinn Feincrs were out to kill the Convention, Mr. Dillon said that in his judgment anybody who endeavoured to kill it, or to put any obstacle in,the way of agreement, was the greatest criminal against the Irish cause. Mr. Dillon went on to say that he' never was as sanguine as some of his colleagues as to the result of the Convention, but he made up his mind the moment it came into being that the greatest blessing that ever could come to Ireland would he agreement by that Convention, and he had done and would do everything in his power to promote that agreement. Sir Edward Carson, who has championed the cause of Ulster so vigorously, seems to have taken up an attitude very similar to that of Mr. Dillon. We aro told that he intends to throw his whole influence in the direction of an immediate settlement which

would include Ulster. When men like Sin Edward Carson and Mr. Dillon have declared so emphatically in favour of a policy of reconciliation, and are doing their utmost to devise a scheme of Home Rule that would be generally acceptable, there should be no need for despair. It would be foolish to jump to the conclusion that the Convention has solved the Irish problem, yet there are reasonable grounds for hoping that it may succed in the way to a'solution, and that its report will give real help to the British Government "The ship of the Convention, " writes Mh. Herbert, "has doubtless tbo prospect of a stormy and perilous voyage before it caii make its harbour, but there is much in the conditions of the country to affright the wrecker, and with all hands assisting in its navigation we may yet hope, the good vessel will come safe to port." It is certainly the earnest hope of the true friend's of Ireland that the labours of the Convention may be abundantly fruitful.