Home Rule for Ireland

Levin Daily Chronicle, 10 March 1917, Page 3

Home Rule for Ireland

— " DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. A London cablegram received yesterday states that in the House of Commons, Mr T. P. O'Connor moved that with a view to strengthening the hands of the Ailies in achieving the recognition of the equal rights of small nations and the principle of nationality against the opposite German principle ol militarism and Government without the consent of the governed .it was essential to |immedLately confer on Ireland the free institutions long promised her.

The lit. Hon. the Prime Minister (Mr I>. Lloyd George) moved as an amendment That this House, while welcoming any settlement which will produce a better understanding between Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom, considers it impossible to forcibly impose on any, section or part of Ireland a form of government which has not their sanction. He said that the Government was prepared to confer self-government; on the part of Ireland- which unmistakably demanded it (cheers), but the Government and the.people of Britain were not prepared to force a portion ol the noitlieastern corner to be governed by a population wherewith they were completely out of sympathy. Mr John Redmond said Mr Lloyd George's professions in favor of Home Rule were absolutely unnecessary today. He had power if he had the courage to use it to carry his profess- | ions into practice. Iliis wa* the time for action. Stripped of all expressions of goodwill the naked 'reality was that Mr Lloyd "George's speech was a policy absolutely of "wait and see. (•Nationalist cheers.) The Piremier had made no,, proposal. Mr Bonar Law said Air O'Connor's motion was an invitation to the House of Commons to join in a united genuine effort to settle the Irish question, but it indicated no change in the attitude of the 'Nationalist party towards the war. This attitude su prised every student of Irish history. It was impossible to imagine that British, which was fighting for the rights of small nationalities., was so inconsistent and unjust as to deny I this right to Ireland. 'The formation ) of the coalition had given the. Na-

bionialists [the- (impression .that tlielir political opponent had triumphed and that home rule would never be allowed to become law. Mr Redmond said he had listened to Mr Lloyd George's speech with the deepest pain. It would be 'bsolutely futile to continue the debate.'" He asked the Nationalists to withdraw and take counsel as to the next step. Mr Redmond then led fhe whole party out of the house, amidst threats against the .Government} benches.