“The Irish Quagmire."

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11, 4 May 1914, Page 5

“The Irish Quagmire."

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. UNIONISTS AND FEDERALISM. (Bt Eleot«io Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] London, May 2. Lord Lansdowne states that the proposal for the exclusion of Ulster for six years is grotesque indeed. It must be understood, if the Unionists entertained proposals based on Home Rule and the exclusion of Ulster, they would not abate anything of their dislike or their objection to Home Rule. They were ready to examine any federal scheme, provided it was a scheme w herein Ulster would find an honorable place and a scheme consistent with the interests of the rest of the United Kingdom. Meanwhile, Ulster was safe, and was not going to retire from her position. The Government should not attempt to drive her from it. That was the only solid foot of ground in the Irish quagmire. The general election, which was not far distant, would not solve the difficulty, though probably it would facilitate a solution. General Macready, in an interview, said the movements of troops at present contemplated were purely of a routine nature.

“EXCLUSION AN IMPOSSIBILITY." rR Y Electric Telegraph—Copyright] Times and Sydney Sun Services. London, May 2. , Freeman’s Journal declares that Home Rule has won over its bitterest enemies, thus confessing that the battle is practically over, and that any arrangement involving a definite exclusion of Ulster is an utter impossibility. SPEECH BY MR BALFOUR. . GLEAN-CUT SEPARATION THE ONLY SOLUTION. London, May 3. Mr Balfour, speaking at Coventry, at a meeting of protest on the use of the Army to shoot down Ulster loyalists for political purposes, said it was evident there was behind the Government a violent and noisy minority, out for blood, and determined that the whole forces of the Crown should be used to crush the loyalists. He was’ glad some members of the Cabinet now recognised that there was nothing to meet Ulster except clean-cut separation. A general election would not settle the question. Even if the country reversed the verdict of 1886 and 1895, the position of Ulster would itill make Home Rule impossible.

OPINIONS ON THE POSITION. (Received 9.20 a.in.) London, May 3. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, writing to the Leicester “Pioneer,” says that Mr Churchill's speech was a blunder. The present was neither the time nor place to propose half measures. Colonel Seely, speaking at Birmingham, said the sudden change in the House of Commons and the country was largely due to Mr Balfour’s action. The Liberals owed a tribute to ,i. man who was prepared with hitter regret to sacrifice his life’s work and ideals, in the cause of peace. Mr Asquith had finely responded.