CABLEGRAMS

Horowhenua Chronicle, 20 October 1916, Page 3

CABLEGRAMS

(Australia-New Zealand Oablo Service.) (Received This Day 9.15 a.m.) DiIi!ATE ON THE' IRISH SITUATION. London, October 19. In the House of Commons, the Right Hon. M. C". Duke, Chief Secretary tor Ireland, replying to Mr. J. Rodin olid, said it was impossible to repeal martial law in Ireland until the ringleaders of the rebels were convinced of tho wickedness and hopelessnews of their proposals. The British Parliament was not responsible for tho failure of the last effort to secure Home Rule. The failure the settlement in July was due to* the fact that the Irish were unable to agree. Meanwhile the Government must secure the protection of all lawabiding citizens.

The Eight Hon. H. H. Asquith repudiated the allegation that Dublin Castle was being run by- a Unionist administration. He paid a tribute to Mr. Redmond's work in connection with .recruiting and said no man in the empire had rendered more constant, more loyal, or more effective service. All must remember that the Government was dealing with a transitory situation. Martial law in the commonly accepted sense of the term was not being applied. Everything was being done under the powers conferred by the Defence of the Realm Act, but in view of possible recru j descence of disorders it was impossible to dispense with safeguards. 'He admitted that some stupidities had been repeated in Ireland since the beginning of the war, and many things done to offend national susceptibilities. 1 hev had enlisted 150.000 recruits in Ireland since the beginning of the war, making a total of 157,000 volunteering to enlist; this was only 2J per cent, of the population. This* was a low percentage compared with the rest of the United Kingdom, andi the contributions from Australia, New Zealand Canada and South Africa. The rebel prisoners would be released the moment it was safe. iHe urged the necessity of dispersing the present suspicion and the obtaining of agreed settlement. Every sane politician in Britain would welcome an agreement with joy. Mr Redmond's motion was rejecto 1 bv 303 to 106.