Party Views.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 15, 17 January 1914, Page 5

Party Views.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

MR BONAR LAW AT BRISTOL.

■ By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] (United Press Association.]

London, January 15

Speaking at Bristol, Air Bonar Law declared that the position at Ulster was far more serious than the Government of the country realised. They were drifting inevitably to civil war, which would shatter, the whole fabric of national existence. There had been conversations between the parties, but without result. The Government desired a peaceful solution of the problem, but the position under which it held oflice made it possible to take the only step affording a peaceful solution. If the Government went on, the issue could not he decided without bloodshed. The Unionist Party was pledged to support Ulster, and, with the help of the Almighty, intended to keep I its pledge, Mr Law said that if the Government can make a proposal to do away with the prospect of civil war, the Opposition were ready to accept it, if possible, without the sacrifice of national

interests or honor. He thought, from the speeches of. Mr Churchill, Sir E. Grey and Mr Asquith, made at Ladybank, that the Government was prepared to face the facts, but at the lirst whisper of a conference, the Nationalist leaders demanded, their pound of flesh. When party discipline was so rigid, and passions so strong, that party interests are preferred to nationinterests,the danger to the State was grave indeed. That was the position now within reach. The Government knew that if an appeal was made to the people to-day, and the verdict went against them, the work for which they had sacrificed everything, including their dignity and the traditions of the House of Commons, would all be in vain.- That is a humiliation whereto no party loader would submit. The obligation which the Government hadincurred to the Nationalists was not precisely a debt of honor, but it weighs heavily with the Government. They can be rue to their allies only by being false to the country. The Unionists maintain that Parliament has the right to govern Ulster, but not to sell A into- slavery. If the Government ceased to act as a constitutional Government of a free people, they were tyrants, arid had lost the light of that jbedience whereupon all governments xist. British troops are, said Mr Bonar Law, to be used to shoot loyalists in order to pay a debt to men who rejoiced over our national misfortunes, insulted the Sovereign and vilified the Army. Such- an order ought not to be given by the Government, mt by tlio declarer! will of the whole British people. If the Government feared a general election, they could jecurc ’a clear issue by means of a referendum, and the Unionist party would how to that decision.

LORD HALDANE AT HOXTON.

London, January 1G

Lord Haldane, speaking at Host-on, deprecated discussing the Ulster negotiations on public platforms. He declined to despair of rational people reaching something approaching a

common denomination. If Mr Bouar Law’s Bristol speech had proved unmenuraging, there was a good deal if time remaining for the people to talk about civil war extending over die whole of Ireland, for such a war was certain if the cup which Ireland bad waited for -hi years were snatch'd away from her lips.

PRESS COMMENT.

(Received 9.30 a.m.) London, January 16. The Irish Times says: “Mr Bonar Law’s speech brings us to tlie parting of the ways in the greatest political crisis of modern times.” The Irish Independent rsavs if the Government accepted exclusion in any shape Hie Nationalists would revolt against dismemberment.