Palace Conference.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 77, 22 July 1914, Page 5

Palace Conference.

HOME RULE FOB IRELAND.

OPINIONS AND PROPOSALS. LABOR'S' STRONG PROTEST. [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] London, July 21. Mr Asquith regretted the anticipation of. the news of the conference by the Press, as the House had the first right to hear of it. The, Labor Party’s resolution regards .the conference as an undue interference on the part of the Crown, calculated to defeat the purposes of the Parliament Act; and also exproocs surprise that two of the representa- \ tires are practically rebels under arms. It is an indication that in future organisation of force is to be officially considered as most effective in industrial as well as political disputes. Some Ulster members of the House of Commons regard the conference as a Government device to gain time, and declare that the Government is throwing upon the King the responsibility which the constitution requires them to bear. • ■ ■ The Unionists see in the conference a second admission by Mr Asquith that Home Rule is unworkable. PRESS COMMENT. i .1 ■ AN IMPARTIAL TRIBUNAL. Sir George- Paish, joint-editor of the Statist, proposes as a settlement of the Home Rule controversy, in the event of negotiations proving abortive, that two impartial arbitrators, the Prime Ministers of Canada and Australia, be invited to act as a miniature Hague Tribunal to decide particular points. He considers that Messrs Borden and Oook, by reason of their great experience of autonomy, are practically qualified to look at the various questions involved, both from the Home-Rule and Imperial aspfect. He points out that in view of thei e

being large numbers of Irishmen, Scotchmen and Englishmen in both Dominions, there would be no race antipathies to the tribunal, whose impartiality could be trusted by Catholics add Protestants alike, ■The Daily News says the King’s intervention is bound to create widespread disquiet. There is a deep-root-ed feeling in the House of Commons that the authority of Parliament is being undermined. •The Chronicle says the idea of the conference originated with Mr Asquith. The conference would have been more auapiqiously launched and more unreservedly welcomed had the announcement not been anticipated by the leaders to the Unionist papers. The paper regrets that the King will not preside in person, and also that the Laborites will hot f> be represented; 1 NATIONALISTS ON THE QUI VIVE 4r Redmond presided at a stormy meeting of the Nationalist Party in the House of Commons as a protest against any further .concessions. Tho meeting gave Messrs Redmond and Dillon plenary powers at the Palace conference. . The Nationalists are firmly resolved not to yield an acre or a rnkn of Tyrone or Fermanagh. Mr Devlin is actively engaged in the organisation of the Nationalst volunteers.

‘ Twelve 1 Liberal members of the House of Commons have contributed £IOO each to the Nationalist funds.

A yacht conveying three thousand rifles for the Nationalist volunteers was seized at Londonderry. One of Mr Devlin’s intimate friends declared that “if the Government betray us to save themselves, the most desperate acts of the Fenians will bo child’s play to what would happen throughout Ireland.” REDMOND AND DILLON MEET THE KING. (Received 9.10 a.in.) London, July 21. Dense crowds cheered the arrival of those taking part in the Home Rule Conference. At the Palace the King received and addressed them. The proceedings, which are private, f were adjourned till to-morrow after an hour and a-half’s discussion. It has been pointed out that this is Mr Redmond and Mr Dillon’s first meeting with the King in pursuance of the Nationalists’ long-established practice of not meeting Royalty until Home Rule was granted. • NOT THE KING’S PROPOSAL. ■*«« ' ————. The Daily Telegraph claims authority for stating that the suggestion for a conference was Mr Asquith’s, nofc the King’s. MINISTERIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Lord Crewe, in the House of Lords, declared there was no departure from Ministerial responsibility or constitutional practice, TRUSTEES OF PEACE. THE KING’S ADDRESS TO THE DELEGATES. 'y London, July 21. The King, addressing the delegates, said the exceptional ciroumstances justified intervention,'as the trend of events was steadily towards an appeal to force. It was unthinkable to him that they should be brought to the brink of a fratricidal strife upon issues capable of adjustment if handled

generously. The Overseas were scarcely less -concerned in a prompt sell lenient and regarded the delegates as trustees for peace. A LIBERAL PHALANX. (Received 10.40 a.m.) London, July 21. One hundred Liberals met and urged the Government not to make concessions that would not ho acceptable to the Nationalists, or to agree to a settlement involving a dissolution before the Plural Voting Bill was passed.