"FORCE BY FORCE.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 49, 29 October 1913, Page 5

"FORCE BY FORCE.”

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

THE FATE OF THE EMPIRE. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] Times— Sydney Sun Special Cables, j (Received S a.m.) London, October 23. The immediate effect of Mr As- 1 quith’s speech on Lister was distinctly unfortunate. It stiffened the backs of the Unionists, who have concentrated upon his threat to suppress force by force. The Irish Times says that if the Ministry persists, no power on earth will he able to save the Empire from as sad a fate as an empire has ever known. SPEECH BY SIR E. CSEV. [United Press Association.! London, October 28. Sir Edward Otey said that the Irish question was the most criticised in Home affairs. Home Utile had not been taken up as a political necessity, but because the country was sick and tired of any attempt to govern Ireland coercively. Home Rule was essential on purely practical grounds if the House of Commons was to be saved from destruction as an Imperial authority, The settlement of Ulster by consent w«aS not made easier by the threats of civil war. which were detestable and abominable. He thought it could be avoided and ought to he avoided, hut it depended on Ulster and the Conservatives. If Ulster said that Home Rule was a matter of life and death, it was also a matter of life and death to the House of Commons. They could manage Irish affairs under existing conditions, hut if violence was used it must he met with violence. If 11ster feared that she was oppressed and got exclusion, it would be more precarious for the Unionists residing in other parts of Ireland. An- agreement should be possible. He suggested that Home Rule within Home Rule was possible, consistently with maintaining unity, giving one part autonomy over education, police an similar matters.

The Chronicle states that no / direct communication has passed between Ministers and the Oppositions over the Ulster situation, hut at the suggestion of an exalted personage, a memorandum has been, drafted by Mr Asquith and his principle colleagues. The same course has been followed by Lord Landsdowne and Mr Bonar Law and memoranda have been exchanged.