THE IRISH BILL

Hokitika Guardian, 3 April 1920, Page 3

THE IRISH BILL

(By Electric Telegraph—Co ibright.i

FURTHER PARLIAMENTARY DISCUSSION, i

(Imperial News Service). LONDON, April 1. Mr Lloyd George asserted that no potion of Ireland would Mr As-—-"quith’s plan. He also asserted that no party in Britain would accept a proposal that was favoured by the majority of 4 tho Irish. The British Government, with its responsibility to the whole ot the Empire, must exercise its wisest • considered judgment. He referred to Mr Devlin’s criticism of the Irish Parliament’s restricted powers under the Bill. His reply was that if, say, Scotland or Wales were offered a similar measure they would gratefully acoept t Certain powers, like Customs control, might he conferred on Ireland if she settled down and if she accepted the Union,. * but at present, he asserted it. \ would be placing a dangerous weapon in the hands of an infuriated people. . He concluded by professing a sanguine belief that the Bill, would lead to a Union though not within three years. In the House of Commons, Mr Adamson (Labour Leader), in dealing with Mr Bohar Daw’s question as to'wlietber the Labour Party was prepared to give Ireland a Republic pointed out that the granting of Dominion Home Rule to other parts of the Empire liadi not resulted in the establishment.of any independent Republics, but on the contrary, the Colonies which had been granted it had been the earnest friends "' and supporters of the Mother Country. Why, then, he asked, should the granting of Dominion Home Rule to Ireland be dangerous ? Personally he suggested that either, there be a grant of full self Government to Ireland, with a provision for the protection of minorities, and the questions;of defence and foreign relations being reserved for the Imperial Government, or that, an assembly representing the whole Irish people be elected, by proportional representation, and that a new ponstitution be drawn up, with similar provision and reservations drafte4 in it. Sir Edward Carson said that if anyone whq could speak in Parliament for the South of Ireland and the West ■ of Ireland appealed to him to do his best to start good temperedly a Government under a. now Irish Parliament, he would most heartily agree and would anticipate the speediest union in one Parliament. He promised that Ulster would do its level best with his Parliament. . Mi- Lloyd George declared that the debate clearly demonstrated tbflt the Government’s plan held the Hold. Undoubtedly the majority of Irishmen wanted thejr independence and an Irish Republic. - It was useless to talk of granting aq Irish Republic. Every- part of tlie epuntry, which had been acting together for a century was entitled to say if it meant to establish a separate Republic. ffp asked the leader the Labourjtes if be. was in favour of the application flf the prnciple of self-determiim: tjoq to Irej^nd, •Mr dynes, aftpr some hesitation, KlUh .that he was not as Mr Lloyd George defined it. * Mr Lloyd George said that this meant that the Labour Party as opposed to any Irish demand for a Republic. He expressed gratification at this, but he. tpld the Labourites not tp mislead the Irish elpctoj-ate

I R ISH PRESS CONDEMNS IT. DUBLIN, April 1. ffhe Irish newspapers scorn the British Honqj Rule Bill. The (‘Freeman's” journal says“lt js dishonest. ?t is simply a great sharp. sphe Government's rpaj purpose is to promote, disorder and anarc|iy ip Ireland.'l fflie -Irish “Independent” dpsprihes the Bill as “an unclean thing.” “The Irjsh, 11 it says, “will flipg the Bill back ip jtw author’s teeth.. We have in Ireland to-day a Government of three ‘Fs,’ —Force, Futility, and Failnrc.” 1 The “Irish Times” says i—“ The Goyf erpnient have not left the Bill the faintest chance of success.”