HOME RULE.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 1219, 12 March 1914, Page 3

HOME RULE.

Mr ASQUITH’S CONCESSIONS. London, March 9. The Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, aunounced in the House of Commons that the Ulster counties would be allowed to take a poll as to whether they should be excluded for six years from the operation of the Home Rule Bill. Before that period expires, the electors of the United Kingdom would have an opportunity to say whether the exclusion should continue. Mr Asquith said he did not expect the proposals would be accepted with enthusiasm in any quarter. Mr Bonar Law demanded that the electors should be consulted, otherwise the Unionists would be unable to accept the proposals. The House was crowded, and all the members present were unable to find accommodation on the floor of the Chamber. Some were seated in the galleries. Great tension prevailed throughout question time. Mr Asquith, Mr Bonar Law and Sir Edward Carson received ovations. Mr Asquith rose amidst great cheering, and said he was offering suggestions, which did not mean running away from the original Bill. He desired to give the Bill a start with the greatest measure of success. There was a prospect of acute. dissatisfaction and civil strife, yet if the Bill was shipwrecked, mutilated, or postponed, the outlook was equally formidable. Any settlement, therefore, must involve acceptance of the principle of an Irish Parliament with special treatment to Ulster beyond the safeguards provided in the Bill. Mr Asquith, continuing, said the Government had considered three roads—first, Home Rule within Home Rule, which did not commend itself to any of the parties; second, the inclusion of the whole of Ireland with the option to the Ulster counties to recede after a period, buc this also possessed fatal drawbacks ; third, the exclusion of Ulster, and the Government decided that Ulster be allowed to say whether it desired exclusion. The poll of the electors will be taken before the Bill is operative, and if exclusion is adopted the 'Six yearly period will date from the first meeting of Parliament. The term will afford ample time to test the new Parliament, and the electors of the United Kingdom will be able to say whether exclusion should continue. Meanwhile Ulster will continue her representation in the Imperial Parliament.

Mr John Redmond said the

Premier had gone to the very limit of concession. Long before the expiry of the six years they would be able to make an exhibition of tolerant government, which would disarm suspicion.

Sir Edward Carson, in the Commons, said it the Government abolished the time limit, he would summon the Ulster Convention to consider the proposals, but not otherwise.

Unionist newspapers declare that exclusion will not satisfy Ulster if a time limit is attached. Apropos this point, the Daily Graphic states that a rumour was current last night that extremely powerful influence induced the Government to alter its proposals. Newspapers testify to the intense interest wherewith Mr Asquith’s statement was awaited. The demand for tickets /or the House of Commons was unprecedented.