AN UNTOLD TALE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 75, 22 December 1919, Page 8

AN UNTOLD TALE

STORY OF THE IRISH CONVENTION

In concluding its inner history of the Irish Convention of 1917-18, "The 'Times" tolls how it failed to agree oil a Constitution for Ireland. The previous instalment' showed how the sub-committee of nine and the Grand Committee had failed to find agreement. . The writer continues

On January 2 Lord Midleton n oved his compromise resolution -.

"That in the event of the establishment of an Irish Parliament there shall be reserved for the Parliament of the United Kingdom full authority for all Imperial services, including Uu> levying of Customs duties, but subject lo the above limitations the Trish Parliament shall control all purely Irish services, including judicature and police, with internal taxation and administration."

Mr. Tlcdmond placed on the agenda paper for January 15 an amendment to Lord Midleton's resolution. Its terms were;

"After the word 'that" in the first line to insert the words 'should the proposals of tlio southern Unionists as defined m this resolution, and ir. the memoranda issued by lord Midleton, be adopted by his Majesty's Government as a settlement of tha Ir'sh question, and legislative effect be given to them forthwith, Hie Convention is prepared to agree that.'"

It wna only a few hours before ho rose to speaK that hp learned that ho could connt rpither on the support of Mr. Devlin, li's fbst lieutenant, r.or on that, of the Bishop of Kaphoe, one of the oldest adherents of his party, and that they did not speak for themselves, alone.

At what might have proved the culminating moment of Mr. Redmond's long career of service to his country ho found himself* deserted by those on vhom lie must have felt that he had a right to count. When he rose in his place it was the most dramatic moment of the Convention. In a few words ho told the assembly that though he believed that ho could carry a majority of those present, he would not put the matter to the proof, and declined to proceed with his amendment.

Prom that moment he was a broken man and the Parnell' tradition a memory.

Premier Intervenes, Tho articles 'narrates how when a deadlock was reached tlie convention was invited to seiid representatives to confer with tlie Cabinet. Tho Premier urged tho necessity of settlement, he nuulo it clear that the Government desired a solution for tho whole of Ireland. •

On the return of the delegates to Dublin. the Prime Minister addressed a long letter to Sir Horace Plunket, in which he conveyed the mind of the Government. He stated:

, "The Government are determined that, so far as is in their power, tho labours of tho convention shall not be in vain. On receiving the report of the convention, tho Government will give it immediate attention, and will proceed with the least possible delay to submit legislative proposals to Parliament. ' "They wish, however, to emphasise tho urgent importance of getting a settlement and throught the convention. Tho convention has teen brought together to endeavour to find a settlement by consent. If the convention fails to secure this, the settlement of the tjnestion will be much more difficult, but it will bo a task incumbent on the Government."

On the vital question of Customs and Excise, "which tho Government feel . . .

cannot be finally settled at tho present time," ho suggested that control of both should bo reserved for two years after tho war, and that, at the end of the war, a lioyal Commission should be established to submit, proposals as to the best moans of adjusting fiscal relations.

News came of the death of Mr. Hetfmond on March C. - It cast a profound gloom upon the proceedings of the Convention. It seemed to place a period to all the high expectations of its earlier days, and io deepen tho sense of hopelessness which all at this timo had hosrun to enleitain. To the Convention and to his country he was an irreparable loss.

The scheme which the Convention produced in Answer to its reference carried the authority of but a narrow majority. It represented, however, an agreement between three parlies; Moderate Nationalists. Southern Unionists, and Labour, though this did not amount to that "substantial" agreement which the Govemliwnt souiht The very fact that these three parties found a common measure was in itself a remarkable achievement. The, Convention gave abundant evidence that ivhero the exigencies of an unnatural political situation did not coerce. Irishmen not only had the capacity but the will to adjust their own differences. The Southern Unionists, the moderate Nationalists, and Labour, following an instinct which few members nid not possess, took their courage in their hands and went boldly for agreement.

The I'l-ter Unionists were not free asroils. The Nationalists who followed the Bifehoi) of I'aphoe feared Sinn Fein and mistrusted the Government. Neither dared to lake the course to which it. is difficult to b?lieve Ihet their natural sentiments and desires, as generous Irishmen, di.l not alt tract them. Once morn the characteristic Irish vice of moral cowardice (not only a Southern oefeot) defeated tho dearest liopos of the Irish people.