The Dominion TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1921. ELECTIONS IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 162, 5 April 1921, Page 4

The Dominion TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 1921. ELECTIONS IN IRELAND

The outlook in Ireland is modified to an important extent by DE Valera’s announcement that the Sinn Fein intends contesting every constituency in the Home Rulo elections which are. to be hold next, month. It would lie at least premature to regard the Sinn I'cm leader’s declaration as facilitating an approach to a settlement in Ireland—indeed, his accompanying remarks indicate that he looks upon the impending elections only as a means o.f extending in a new form the present vendetta against the British Government —but the participation of the Sinn J ein in the elections will nevertheless. represent an approach to conditions in which a settlement ought to be possible. • Although the establishment of the Ulster Parliament ns assured, it seemed until recently very doubtful whether the Southern Parliament would be brought into existence, at all events, in such conditions as would enable it to act confidently for the important section of Ireland it is intended to represent. A strong probability appeared that the Sinn Fein would either boycott the elections or obstruct them by a campaign of terrorism. The actual decision of the revolutionary organisation will no doubt be welcomed by all who desire to see peace restored in Ireland. Its declared aim is to secure the return of an overwhelming majority of its nominees in Southern Ireland, and if possible to capture some of the Ulster seats, but any substitution of Parliamentary procedure- for tactics of violent terrorism must be a gain, and benefit to Ireland. The possibility, of course, appears that the Sinn Fein leaders may be consenting to take part in the elections only in the hope, of stultifying the Government of Troland Act, but this would not gain them any friends. In spite of the merciless and often rancorous criticism to which it has been subqccted, the Government of Ireland Act, in its setting, undoubtedly offers a liberal concession of self-governing powers. This must bo admitted by any unprejudiced person who considers its leading provisions, here briefly summarised:-— Two Parliaments are to be estatelished, one for the six north-eastern counties of Ulster, and one for the rest of Ireland. The Lower House in each case is to be elected by a system of proportional representation (the single transferable vote). As the Act was drafted, singlechamber Parliaments were proposed, but an amendment by the House of Lords which the House of Commons subsequently approved (with modifications), provides for the addition in each case of a Senate. The Northern Senate is to be elected by proportional representation. The Southern Senate is to consist of 17 nominated and 44 elected members, together with several ex-officio members, including the Lord Mayors of Dublin and vCork. The two Parliaments are given wide powers of control over domestic affairs in their respective areas. Matters reserved to the Imperial Parliament include the Crown, peace and war, the fighting forces, foreign and inter-Impcr-ial affairs, titles, treason and naturalisation, trade outside the area of each Parliament, submarine cables, wireless telegraphy, and aerial 'navigation. Control of the- police is reserved for three years, the Post Office until arrangements are made by the two Parliaments for a joint postal service, and the Land Purchase Acts until otherwise provided bjy the Imperial Government-. At the outset a contribution of £18,000,000 per annum is to be made towards the cost of Imperial services. Of this amount the South will pay 56 per cent, and the North 44 per cent. After two years the amount of the Imperial contribution is to be subject to adjustment by a Joint Exchequer Board. Land annuities amounting to £3,000,000 a year which are now payable to the British Government are to be handed to Ireland as a free gift for development. In addition an Imperial gift of £1,000,000 will be made to each of the two Governments to cover initial expenditure. Custom# and excise are reserved until the date of a union between North and South Ireland, when the subject will be reconsidered. The collection of income tax is to be macle as at present by Imperial machinery, but the Irish Parliaments arc given wide- powers of varying the rate and incidence of the income tax. The two Parliaments will be co-or-dinated by a Council of Ireland representing the whole country, consisting of a President appointed l>V the King and twenty members delegated by each of the two Parliaments. The Council will deal with Private Bill legislation and laws respecting railways, with questions affecting the welfare of the whole country on which it may make suggestions only by resolution to the Parliaments, and with any matters relegated to it by the two Parliaments. In place of the Council, thy two Parliaments ina.y decide to set up one Parliament for the whole or Ireland. Either Parliament, ’ after being in existence for three years and a half, may alter its own mode of election. Ireland is to return 42 members to serve in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. If the number of members returned to cither Irish Parliament, or the number taking (lie oath of allegiance, ik less than halT of the total named in the Act, Crown Colony government may bo established in tne area concerned.

It is plain that apart from indispensable safeguards in regard to foreign policy and defence, the reservations made by the Act arc chiefly those arising inevitably out of the internal divisions [in Ireland and the disorders now prevalent. The British Government has repeatedly declared that given the necessary conditions of peace ail'd order it is prepared to enlarge generously the self-governing powers the Act confers. The concession of Home Bule within the limits at present defined is merely preliminary,. In addition the people of Ireland - are offered, subject only to agreement amongst themselves, an unhampered opportunity of working out practically any development of autonomous self-government that is consistent with Imperial unity and strategic security. With the Ulster and Southern Parliaments in being, it surely will not be easy for Sinn Fein extremists to show any vestige of reason for refusing to consider a peaceful settlement, and it may be hoped that with the Parliaments established each and every party that aspires to take a leading part in Irish affairs will be called upon to justify its policy and actions. In Ulster, the spirit of conciliation seems to be gathering head. Reports declare that the party which is bound to dominate the -Northern Parliament will welcome the presence of a Catholic Opposition and that its leaders and members are intent on reaching an eauitable adjustment of economic and other interests with the rest of Ireland. It rests largely with the people of Southern Ireland to determine how far the facilities the new Act undoubtedly offers for the promotion of Irish union and a full development of selfgovernment are to be turned to account. It is hardly in doubt that the Sinn Poitiers will capture' a great proportion of the seats in the Southern Parliament, but unless they deliberately wreck the machinery of the Act, the election ought to bring a settlement definitely nearer. Moderate opinion can hardly be submerged as completely in an elected Parliament as it is in the present carnival of blood and terrorism and open and responsible discussion is bound to expose the futility of the extremist policy. The Act which is about to be Wrought into operation either gives directly or places within roach of the people of Ireland every concession they are entitled to demand and the underlying significance of Dfe Valera’s announcement may be that in face of this liberality the Sinn Fein leaders feel it necessary to their continued influence to modify their past attitude.