Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1917. IRELAND AGAIN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1758, 11 September 1917, Page 2

Manawatu Herald. TUESDAY, SEPT. 11, 1917. IRELAND AGAIN.

EARL CURZON, speaking in the House of Lords recently said: “There has been no month but the figure of Ireland has arisen like a spectre across our path —Ireland indeed presenting two faces, one turned towards (he battlefield with all (he chivalrous ardour and personal courage for which the race Ims always been conspicuous and which has never shone with brighter lustre than during the war; Imt the other face averted from the Struggle, exhibiting a discontent and even an angry mien still playing on ancient wrongs, still suspicions of British Governments, still declining to join whole-heartedly in the supreme effort of (he united AngloSaxon race. It has had its ellect upon our armies in the Held which would have been all the stronger in numbers bad it not been lor this fatal point in our armour. It has nof been without its effect on our Allies, who have wondered at our failure to do for ourselves what we have succeeded in doing for others, what even in this war wo are endeavouring to do for other peoples. It has given the enemy abundant opportunity to blaspheme, and to practise those arts of propaganda and intrigue in which he so greatly excels. Everyone now realises that if a solution is to come it must come from Irishmen themselves. The British public can do a good deal more by a quiet exhibition of sympathy and goodwill. ■ Above all, Irishmen themselves can contribute everything by an exhibition of those qualities of ardent patriotism, bold initiative, and rich imagination which have made them one of the most attractive, and also one of the piost untraetable peoples of the earth. The tide is running fast in Ireland. I pray God that on this occasion we may not miss it.’?

Mr Lloyd George, hi the House of Commons; —“The Government have decided to invite Irishmen themselves to put forward their own propo-

sals for the government of their own country. Hitherto in these measures Britain has attempted to do all the construction, and Ireland the criticism. The result has been that Ireland herself has never been faced with the real difficulties with which every Government has been confronted in attempting to solve this perplexing problem. Once Irish - men undertake this function for themselves they will give due weight to the very perplexing obstacles which have hitherto baffled so many well-meaning statesmen who have attempted to solve the Irish problem. Besides, responsibility awakens reason. Therefore we propose that Ireland should try her own hand at hammering out an instrument of government for her own people. This experiment has succeeded in other parts of the British. Empire, It succeeded in Canada, in Australia, and in South Africa. In Canada and in South Africa you had a conflict of races, and in at least one of them a bitter conflict of creeds. In South Africa the banners of the struggling races had only quite Recently been steeped in the blood of their sons, and yet goodwill and eommonsense triumphed there. What was accomplished in South Africa, in Australia, and in Canada, I cannot help believing, is achoivablo in Ireland.”

Mr J. Redmond, in the House of Commons; —“For the lirst time in her history, Ireland is asked practically to settle this problem for herself. That proposal, in my view, no Irishman and no section of Irishmen can with any show of reason refuse, and I feel sure that on consideration every section of my fel-low-countrymen will agree to come into this proposal. It would speak badly for the spirit of statesmanship and patriotism if any Irishman, or anv section of Irishmen, refused to meet in conference or convention (heir own fellow countrymen, and to see whether ah end cannot ho put to the miseries and dangers ol the present situation. Agreement, reconciliation, among Irishmen is (he greatest blessing that Heaven could send to our country. There is no personal sacrilieo that I would not be willing to make in the effort to secure it. With all my heart I pray that when this Convention assembles it may be animated by the true spirit of conciliation and of toleration among brother Irishmen, and that its deliberations may he guided by such a spirit of wisdom, moderation, and patriotism as will prove to the world once and for all that Ireland docs possess those qualities which entitle her and qualify her for Ihe arts of self-government.”