“Baptism of Blood.”

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 57, 9 March 1914, Page 5

“Baptism of Blood.”

HOME RULE FOP. JR ELAM D,

THE ORIGIN OF THE CRISIS. IBy Electric Telegraph—Copy bight i [United Press AesooiAriDN j (Received 9.0 a.m.) London, March S.

Lord Selhorne, speaking at Darlington, said the present crisis had arisen because half the country tried

u) trample upon the convictions of (he other half, and that was impossible in democracy He rather favoured devolution, because it would

cripple the party machine and rearrange public opinion in Britain in an artificial manner. There was no chance of peace if the baptism oi Home Rule was in blood. THE KING’S PREROGATIVE. London, March 0. It is rumored that the King has intervened in regard to the Home Rule Bill. The report was at first di!h i disced as i'acreJihlh, but it is now universally current among politicians and is generally accepted as true that his Majesty insisted on a general election to immediately follow the passing of the measure. It is said that the King informed Mr Asquith that if this course were not voluntarily pursued his Majesty would exercise his prerogative and dissolve Parliament. The report caused hitter and unconcealed resentment in Liberal circles at such a step, it being the lirst tinio in modern history that the Crown has been in direct conflict with the critical stage through which national politics are now passing.

THE IRISH PLEBISCITE

London, March 7

Mr Asquith is expected to offer the plebiscite to all the counties in Ireland. This is attributed to his desire to satisfy the Nationalists,- and give an appearance of uniformity; and nominally that no special treatment is being accorded Lister. The Union Defence League has received application forms for a million signatures to the British declaration.

LOCAL OPTION PROPOSALS.

London, March. 8 The newspapers continue to ufh

that Mr Asquith is determined that every Irish county shall decide by a referendum whether it will remain outside the jurisdiction of the Irish Parliament for five years.

It is understood that Mr LloyoGeorge conducted the negotiations with the Irish Party, and that Messrs Redmond, Devlin, and O’Connor reluctantlv agreed that Antrim, Down, Londonderry, and Armagh should certainly bo contracted out of the Bill. Nationalist majorities in Tyrone and Fermanagh will be small, but sure.

PRESS COMMENT

(Received 9.5 a.m.) Loudon, March S

The “Observer” declares that it the four counties are to be compulsorily absorbed at the end of three to live years, a compromise will he impossible. Sir Henry Lucy asserts that the “diehards” in the House of Lords are deteermined to reject the Army Bill, necessitating a dissolution of Parliament at midsummer.