INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 220, 23 May 1917, Page 5

INCIDENTS OF THE WAR.

NEW ZExALANDERS HONOURED. BY FRENCH PRESIDENT. LONDON, May 2.1. President Poincare awarded the Cross of the Legion of Honour to Major Whitohorn, of the Auckland Mounted Rifles; the War Cross to Corporal J. Powell, Wellington Mounted Rifles; and Military Medals to Sergeant .1. Simpkins, Auckland Mounted Rifles; Trooper Trott, Wellington Mounted Rifles.

lEISH AFFAIRS.

AN IRISH CONVENTION

ATTEMPT TO SETTLE PROBLEM

GOVERNMENT’S LATEST EFFORT

LONDON, May 21

la the House of Commons, Mr. Lloyd George made a statement regarding the Irish convention. He said it would comprise representatives of local government bodies, churches, trade unions and commercial and education interests. Sittings would be held with closed doors. The Government would accept responsibility if a substantial agreement was reached. Sir John Lonsdale stated that Ulstermen would do their utmost to promote a settlement, but he was not hopeful of the future, Mr. Redmond said the proposals implied an obligation on Britain to give effect to the decisions. He assumed that all sections of Irishmen felt bound to participate. Mr. Lloyd George referred to the successive failures of attempts by English Governments ro secure an Irish settlement, it had therefore been decided to invite Irishmen to put forward proposals, to try their own hands at forming an instrument of Government. The experiment had succeeded in the Dominions and he could not help thinking that what had succeeded there could be achieved in Ireland. He therefore proposed to summon immediately a convention of Irishmen ju Ireland to submit to. the British Government and Parliament a constitution for the Government of Ireland within the Empire. It m; be representative of all classes and | interests, including Sinn Feiners. It must really represent Irish life and activities in all their forms. It suggested that the chairman should be j nominated by the Crown and the j terms of reference should be those contained in his letter to Mr. Redmond. The parties entering the convention would be pledged to no conclusion, but each man would be pledged to do his best, as an Irishman a patriot, and a man of honour, to settle the controversy. If a substantial agreement was reached, the Imperial Government would accept the responsibility of taking all necessary steps to give legislative effect to the agreement. The Government felt that a settlement would materially help towards the successful conclusion of j the war. Irishmen had a pubi'enatr, love of liberty, and he Varied them j to be ranged on the side of the Allies, not torn by conflicting emotions. We should need all our strength to win a triumph worthy of the sacrifices made.

The Empire could not afford to have this uncured sore that, sapped its vigour. He appealed to the patriotic spirit to help in healing the sore. Mr. Redmond said the proposal was entirely novel. He was willing to agree to the limited representation of the Irish party equally with the large | representation of Ulster and generous j representations of Sinn Feiners. He | approved the proposal to have a small nominated element, also that the Crown should nominate a chairman. He hoped the result of the Conference would be blessed for Ireland and the Empire. He whole-heartedly hoped it would be animated by the true spirit of conciliation among all Irishmen. Lord Lonsdale, speaking for the Ulster party, said the proposal would be submitted to Ulster with a recommendation that it be carefully considered, the people would be guided by the same patriotic motives which had always guided them. Though not sanguine of the result, he and his colleagues would not take the responsibility of closing the doer on the ex-

perTmeut. In the House of Commons, Mr. William O’Brien, while welcoming the proposal, warned the Government that great difficulties would have to be overcome in the selection of a convention. Mr. Asquith pointed out that there was no dissent from the Government proposals. On the contrary, a large part of the Irish nation heartily embraced them.

Sir Edward Carson said he found no reason to modify the opinion he had always held that the best solution was the maintenance of the. union. He urged that if a convention met the delegates should attend without set proposals. Sir Edward Carson said that whether Ulster participated in the conference or not, she will not he influenced

by threats. He would, be with Ulster to the end.

In the House of Lords, Lord Curzon emphasised that the war alone had le'd the Government to try to solve the Irish difficulty. It would

he a national misfortune if one of the ii isL pai ties stood out of the convention.

Lei d Middleton said he was not rroing to treat the convention as loredoomed to failure, but the only peaceful solution he and his friends would accept would be one enduring and just. Let the Government scrap past •history, so that the Nationalists would not only receive but also give. He and his friends would not go to the convention with a rope round their necks.

Lord Lansdowne repudiated the charge that he wrecked the last attempt at settlement, which failed because it could not settle the details. Opinion in Ireland had since harden-

ed against partition. He was not hopeful regarding the conference, but if it failed it would be Ireland’s fault. The Sinn Fein committee has issued a manifesto stating that it distrusts the convention proposals. The Government has already pledged its support to a small section of Irisibt who refuse to abide by the decision, of their fellow-countrymen. This precludes the possibility of a settlement and means that such a convention, if

held, must be free of English influence, free, if it desires, to declare the complete independence of Ireland.

IRISH PRESS OPINION,

Received 10.40 a m. I.OND' V. May 22. The newspaper Irish Independent declares the Government has abandoned participation in the remedy, therefore it is a pure wash <>• imo for a convention to discuss ; Ireland will not bo content with " g shor- -»f full colonial Home Rub* The Irish Times states the convention to haye a chance of s •• '■•ess must discuss partition, The’ Freeman 's . -elands the convention. L.