IRELAND.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 84, 12 July 1916, Page 3

IRELAND.

HOME RULE QUESTION.

CONDITIONS OF SETTLEMENT.

Press Association—Copyright, Austra-

lian and N.Z. Cable Association. London, Jilly 11

lia the House of Commons, Mr Asquith, in his Irish statement, said that Mr Lloyd George had consulted all sections in Ireland, and only one basis of settlement was possible; which’ involved the bringing down of a Home Rule Bill omitting in its operation six Ulster counties and the Parliamentary boroughs of Belfast, Londonderry, and ‘Newiy. One thingwhich made all parties come, to an agreement was the 'war. At the Somme Ulster and other Irish regimen tac were vieing in splendid rivalry, creating a new bond between . themselves and between the United; Kingdom. This was the moment to remove, if t they could, any cause for future party strife, and leave the kingdom free to concentrate its energies upon the achievement of victory. It was in this spirit that Ulstermen and Nationalists negotiated, and the Government offered proposals to the House. The main changes proposed were that the Irish House pf Commons should consist for the time being ot those returned to the' Imperial House of Commons, and that the Appeal Court should consist of judges appointed by , ]the Imperial' Executive. He had not received a - specific proposal 1 from the ‘Unionists pf the west and south, but *th|V IvouM receive careful and sym•’piVhetic treatment. The Imperial Go'verninept ' would retain exclusive in matters arising from the W J aV Bill, [which provisional measure would, remain in force for twelve months after the war. Those who looked forward to; a united Ireland ‘recognised, that union could' never be effected without’the dree will and assent of the excluded area. . He believed there was now a golden opportunity for an arrangement such as was never before possible. He appealed to the House to take advantage of the chance, which might-never recur, of providing k lasting., settlement. Sir E; Carson-said he understood the six counties would be definitely eliminated/ although,' of course, they could be included by another Bill., ! Mr Asquith: “They cannot he inwithout it. •. Machinery will, he provide!! for the government of the included (jountios.” Irish .members would continue to sit in the Imperial ..Parliament unjtfeV. tW Home-Rula,r4^|-q : . .au'.. ./-'i a / .