Paving the Way.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 59, 11 March 1914, Page 5

Paving the Way.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

THE PRICE OF PEACfch [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.! London, March 10. In the House of Commons, Mr Asquith said that personally lie had spent a great deal of labor in trying to devise a settlement on the lines of Home Rule within Home Rule, but that pleased no one. Exclusion was only proposed as the price of peace, and an expedient to pave the way for

la. final settlement. The Irish execu I live would have no right cf entiy j into Ulster. An Imperial Ministm |in the Irish Parliament would he responsible for Ulster. There would )be no difficulty regarding factory and '•workshop administration, while echifa Ition and local government could he I dealt with by the creation of local authorities. There need be no difficulty regarding police nr land purchase, as these wore included in the services reserved for the Imperial Pa rliament. The Unionist Leader. Mr Bonar Law, leader of the Unionist Party, said the Premier’s proposals were equivalent to saying to Ulster • “By an organisation extending over three years you have placed yourselves in an impregnable position. Therefore we don’t ask you to submit now to a National Parliament, but ask you to destroy your organisation and leave your fortress. When you are weak you will be compelled to do what yon cannot bo compelled to do to-day. Does the Premier con sidor that reasonable? I think the proposals are utterly futile. If the Government is unwilling to have a general election it can put the proposals outlined to-night in a Bill and attach a clause necessitating the Bill being submitted to the country for a plain ‘yes’ or ‘no.’ adding that if the verdict is ‘yes’ the Bill shall he presented forthwith for the Roval assent. I

cannot speak for the House of Lords but if the Government will do this, I will do everything to enable them to carry the referendum into effect.” Mr John Redmond. Mr John Redmond, leader of the re-united Irish Nationalist Party, said: “If Ulster frankly accepts the Government proposals as the basis of peace, we will accept them in the same spirit. It will be a tragedy if Sir Edward Carson and Ins friends refuse to assist in creating good Government for Ireland.”

He continued: “If the Opposition, in a moment’s unwisdom and passion, reject this far-reaching and generous suggestion, then the Government will owe it to Ireland and to the Empire to put tiie Bill on the Statute Book without delay and face with

firmness any movement to overawe Parliament and subvert the law bv menace or arms.” Sir Edward Carson, Sir Edward Carson said that Ulster was not going to desert the loyalists in the west and south of Ireland, but if the Government wanted to prevent Ulster resisting by force as being opposed to constitutional methods, Mr Asquith had made some progress by acknowledging the principle of exclusion. Details could be worked out by negotiation, but Ulster d»d nor want a sentence of death with a stay of execution for a sexennium It was impossible for the business of Ulster to proceed with the people knowing that their future Government might be changed by a general election. “Why not,” he asked, “agree, afte v a referendum, that Ulster remains apart until the Imperial Parliament having regard to the feeling of Ulster itself, orders otherwise?” Sir Edward Carson added: “Mr Redmond has asked the House to employ the resources of the Government against Ulster, hut the country prepared to allow the forces of the Crown which are not the forces of any poli-j tieal caucus, to ho used to coerce men who ask nothing hut that they shad remain under this Parliament?” Mr Wm. O’Brien. Mr O’Brien said the Premier’s suggestions were hateful and intolerable and that 1 I stem was indulging in a gigantic game of bluff. Mr Tim Healy. , Mr Healy said lie would rather have

no Bill than the proposed modification Me was certain that Mr Redmond was

going to swallow perpetual exclusion. The four excluded counties would be boycotted by all Irish outside. There would probably be a movement in the American Congress to put a tariff on Belfast linen and other products to

prevent them being consumed in the I’nited States.

THE DEBATE ADJOURNED.

The debate was adjourned till the 16 th.

Mr Asquith indicated that Belfast and Londonderry city, which are county boroughs, would vote as separate counties.

PRESS COMMENT,

London, March 10

The Daily Mail says the Government’s decision to increase the term ’of exclusion to the sexennium was only intimated to a nationalist meeting yesterday, and is attributed to Royal influence. The Daily Chronicle says the time limit is not very material. Why] should not Ulster have referenda] every trieuuimn? Mr Asquith’s proposal meets those cities who say that

Parliament is not entitled to transfer populations to a new rule without the people’s consent.

The Daily News remarks that the threat of civil war is being used to restore the supremacy of the House of Lords, and Ulster farmers are being drilled in order to deprive the democracy of the fruits of the victory won in 1910. If the Premier’s over-generous terms are rejected, the country will ask for a severe repression of the rebel movement.

(Received S.O a.m.) Times and Sydney* ;Sun Services London, March 10,

The Times, in a leader, says: Mr Asquith’s proposals show a profound miscalculation of the situation. This mockery of an offer at the eleventh hour has made no favourable impres-

sion. The Standard describes it as

grossly objectionable. The Evening News says it is the final attempt at a peaceful settlement by the Liberals.

“THE BILL MUST PASS.”

(Received 9.10 a.m.) London, March 10

During the Home Rule debate, Mr Ramsay MacDonald stated there would be no general election until the Bill had passed.