Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27th., 1919. IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 December 1919, Page 2

Hokitika Guardian & Evening Star SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27th., 1919. IRELAND.

Christmas has brought the gift of Home Rule again within the grasp of Ireland. For far too long that distressful country has been in the throes of political travail. Home Rule was ensured under the act of 1914—which had passed the House of .Commops in the successive sessions and had twice been rejected by the Lords. The Act was not acceptable to Ulster, and there were preparations made to fulfil the “Ulster Convention” to refuse to recognise the authority of any Home Rule parliament which might be setup. The situation was a threatening one, and the Government proposed an amending bill to exclude Ulster from the provisions of Home Rule for six years. But the great war came,' and as part of the political truce then entered into, and which the Irish Nationalist party adhered to, the Suspensory Act was passed. This suspended the introduction of

the Home Rule Act till the termination of the war, the date to be fixed by Order in Council. The then Premier, Mr Asquith, gave also a pledge that the Government would never countenance the coercion of Ulster. Sir Edward Carson as leaedr of the Ulster Unionist Council proclaimed undying opposition to the Home Rule measure which would involve Ulster. The members of the Irish Nationalist party 1 co-operated in the recruiting campaigns and the .vexed Irish question remained in abeyance for the time being. ,In 1916 the Sinn Fein movement began : to rear its head determindly and in Easter of that year there was the unfortunate Dublin rising. This event in- , tensified feeling which has grown more j and more acute as time rolled by. The Government made another political effort in 1917 to settle the Irish question on terms acceptable to' all concerned. An Irish Convention representative of Ireland was summoned, its order of reference being “to submit to the British Government a constitution for the future government of Ireland within the Empire.” There were lengthy sittings, and at first, hopes were raised, but in the end the efforts for a tranquil settlement were without avail. From there on the Sinn Fein movement has grown, and culminated in the declaration of an Irish Republic. The Sinn Fein candidates were successful at the polls, defeating prominent Nationalists who i .i J n KMlmn in ITia PflllSP

of Home Rule. The control of Ireland has grown more and more difficult till it has culminated in a state verging on a modified form of civil war against the rebel element. The Sinn Fein organisation has been powerful and successful in its methods to maintain a state of unrest and actual terror. The civil force has been strengthened and armed and unusual force by way of repressive measures has had to he taken. Distressful Ireland became more and more distressful in the political sense, and a settlement appeared to be a problem beyond human ingenuity. All through the months of anxious consideration and deliberation statesmen have been striving for a way out—to reconcile the two sections in Ireland under a single form of government,

Now has come the measure introduced by Mr Lloyd George who pleaded so eloquently and so sincerely for a practicable settlement of the Irish question. The measure is largely the work of the Irish administration which has been sitting for sqme time seeking a way out. The measure ip general follows the forecast of the London Times of some weeks ago, and; accords Liberal measure of Home Rule, under a dual form of parliamentary government. It is clear that at this stage a single parliament would not find favor in Ulster, the point now is, will the compromise of two parliaments find favor with the rest of Ireland. The Government plan of action in framing the new measure ig based on three fundamental facts, (1) the impossibility of an Irish Republic; (2) The Nationalist objection to British rule; (3) North of Ireland objection to Irish rule. With divergent issues such as these, the best that could, be looked for is a degree of compromise, as liberal as the complexity of the 'circumstances woulßi permit. Mr Lloyd George in his clearly expressed statement asks for a clean slate in duajipg with the present legislation. Forget the past with its piistifk.es, follies pud crimes, he said, apd not blaming anybody, seek about setting matters fight- U sound advice, but will Jreippi? vvhjplj has nursed her “wrongs” for sir lopg, accept it ? The extreme element will not, we fear to think, and probably they by their dpniipaijce of the domestic© -situation, piaster the home position. If this he so, thp upnatural and unnecessary struggle will §ti]| go on. It seems all so fruitless, too, for flpspjte the fact of British rule ill Ireland, the country was never so prosperous. We are quite gurp that throughout the British Empite there is a clear desire for the affairs of Ireland to be settled and settled amicably. The Home Rule Act of 1914 is a pledge which must in honor be and the present attempt is a super effort to give effect to the decision of the Commons of five years ago. On the other ■id, it is clear that Britain is not going to be brow-beaten over the affair. Mr Lloyd George holds out the olive branch to Ireland and he pleads for its acceptance as a generous act due to thp pajtiop. We may be sure that much anxious thought' h.as been dcyo.ted to devising a manner with the greatest hope of A§ jpattprs stand in Ireland just now the maintenance of the law as it is, i s an enormous cost, and the unsettlement and insecurity under which the country is laboring, must mean also a very great national individual logs, From ftvery point of view there is a call for peaceful times in Ireland, and now is the opportunity to secure them.

As toThe aids for a happy termination to the sad pages of Irish history now beijng written the Irish limes giyfli a clue. In referring to the lawlessness of Ireland, it commonets on “the tragic silence of jthp Church. Here is a force which entered, can make its mark on the peaceable progress of ! event*. If the present effort for a settlement foils, the outlook is black indeed. The Church may move in its own way to advise and - direct a line of action which would ensure a happy termination to tlie course pf events. The alternative is to leave the fate of Irish to the Sinn Fein party who would wreck the cause of Ireland. The man who lately attempted the life of Lord French is said to be a well-known sedftionist, and the London Times has called on the Sinn Fein organisation to repudiate, the act, or take the political consequences. The political effect for Ireland, might easily be serious, but Mr Lloyde George with a deep sense of justice overlooks the attempted crime, and does not s eek fo punish the numerous innocent in Ireland for the sake of the few guilty. But there must be an end ,to the reign of terror, and it is for Irishmen to consider v‘,ell the position. .The country is at the cross roads now, and it is for the people in mass to decide sanely which route they will continue to travel. Before them is opened a way which with easy compromise would lead to the final goal they would attain. On the other hand, is. a difficult pathway to tread, which will become more difficult and dangerous aB they seek to advance. All well-wishers for

the Empire will ardently desire a happy ] settlement of the national issue. A way is prepared, and it will be for the extremists on both sides to seek to meet each other half way, and in nobleness of spirit accept a well meant understanding in the same generous spirit in' which the legislative offer is made to them. No doubt the proposals will be viewed and discussed from all points of view; but in fairness we must get back to the view point of the framers of the measure—the sole desire to settle the affairs of Ireland in fairness to all parties and interests concerned, complex and opposed to one another as they are. I