THE IRISH QUESTION.

Hokitika Guardian, 12 March 1917, Page 4

THE IRISH QUESTION.

Nationalists Attitude.

LONDON, March. 9

Thß Nationalists passed a resolution that Mr Lloyd George’s speech took up a position which involved a denial of selfgovernment for Ireland forever and laid down the principle that the small minority in Ulster should vote selfgo.vernment for United Ireland. That is the position to which the representatives of Ireland can never assent.

Mr. Lloyd George had asserted that he had never changed his position on this question of the so-called coercion of Ireland. This was not true. He was a party to drafting the original Home Rule Bill which applied to all Ireand. He was a party to the rejection of tho amendments excluding Ulster.

When under pressure, Mr. Lloyd George and his Government weakly yield to Sir Edward Carsons threats of rebellion and we agreed on Mr. Lloyd George’s pledge that the Government would see the settlement through at any cost. The negotiations in July referred strictly to a temporary war arrangement, with the express understanding that the year after the war they revert to the status quo ante helium.

Mr. Lloyd George’s speech has undoubtedly tended to intensify tho distrust of tho pledges of British 'legislators now so widely spread in Ireland. It had a most serioti effect in strengthening the power of the revolutionary

movement. The situation in Ireland and the Empire created by the speech was one of terrible seriousness. The act ion of the British Government since the coalition in May, 1915, made the task of carrying on the constitutional movement in Ireland almost impossible It had a most serious effect in strength assistane of tho level-headed Nationalists in Ireland and the aid of the millions of the Irish race in the Dominions and tho United States. To them we appeal most earnestly to aid those who have rescued Ireland from being Germany’s catspaw and tool. We aro now struggling against terrible odds to keep open tho road to Irish liberty through peaceful constitutional means—a struggle wherein we are hampered by tho British Government, which plays into the hands of the Irish pro-German revolutionaries with the stupid perversity worthy of the worst reactionaries.

Ireland Qalm

DUBLIN, March 9

The country is calm and realises that another chapter in Homo Rule has closed, necessitating the problem being re-approached by now methods and view points. The leaders are restrained and anxious not to aggravate the gravity of the situation. The vast body of moderates will welcome any effort to bring together the north and south. The Ulster press dislikes Mr Asquith’s commission proposal and threatens to refuse any scheme of national Irish-service if the headquarters are to be at Dublin, because they bitterly resent • the official Nationalist’s war attitude.

A Manifesto.

LONDON, March. 9.

The Nationalists have sent a, manifesto to the President of the United States and to the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Canada that Mr. Lloyd George’s attitude is a breach of faith tf> the Irish party and nation. While resolved to do ail in their power to aid in winning the war the Nationalists are bound to oppose tbe Government by every means.