LLOYD GEORGE’S REPLY.

Hokitika Guardian, 9 August 1920, Page 1

LLOYD GEORGE’S REPLY.

RESTORATION OF ORDER BILL,

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COmMONS

(Reuter's Telegram.;

LONDON, Aug 5,

In the House of Commons, Air Bonar Law, in moving the “guillotine motion” providing for the passage of the Restoration of Order in Ireland Bill by to-morrow evening, deprecated the feeling of despair about the possibility of remedying existing conditions in Ireland. Those, lie said could not be worse Ilian in 1833, after which civilised conditions were restored in Ireland.

The motion was adopted, after which Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ireland, moved tho second, reading of tiie Bill. After paying a tribute to the courage of the Irish Judges in carrying out their duties, he said it was impossible to have fairer Courts in Ireland than the courts-martial provided by the Bill.

Air Asquith opposed the second reading. lie said he considered courtsmartial useless in view of the likely inability Lo got evidence against accused persons. The Government was largely responsible for the gravity of the situation, because it bad not introduced the liberal measure-of self-govern-ment promised in 1918, when lie asked Parliament to apply the Compulsory .Military Service Bill to He demanded that the Government should give Home Rule on Dominion lines. -

Replying to questions if lie ever made such an offer, Air Asquith said: “No, hut 1 was prepared to do so.” Now, lie added, he did not retract his past statements about allowing tho Ulster Counties to stand aloof. He believed that Irishmen's common sense and recognition of self-interest would lead them To accept the Dominion Home Rule scheme. Air Asquith, in conclusion, said he believed that an Irish Republic was not a practical possibility. Air Lloyd George said it was useless to make ill-considered and vague suggestions of Dominion Home Rule, and he challenged Air Asquith to name anyone in Ireland, able to speak authoritatively on behalf of the Irish people, who would accept it. He pointed out that the Sinn Fein members of the House of Commons, headed by Do Valera., had definitely stated that they would not be satisfied with anything less than a Republic. He asked if the assassination of policemen, and intimidation, murder, and outrage were to be permitted to continue without taking measures of protection. Giving Ireland Dominion Home Rule would involve an Army and a Navy. The Premier said every Dominion had an army, and if they had no Navy it was because they had not established one under the full powers they possessed. He asked if all Irish ports were to be controlled by an Irish Parliament, and declared that the Irish ports were the most dangerous spots in the Empire.

Replying to the criticism of Mr Asquith as regards the militaristic character of the Bill, Air Lloyd George pointed to the existence of an Irish Republican Army, which issued orders and decrees signed by “generals” anu “captains,” and declared itself to be at war with the British Empire.