BRITISH POLITICS

Taihape Daily Times, 25 October 1917, Page 5

BRITISH POLITICS

GERMANY’S HAND APPARENT. LONDON, October 23. In the House of Commons, Mr. Redmond moved a motion deploring the Irish Executive’s policy, also the Irish military policy, especially in view of the necessity for creating an atmosphere favourable to the Convention. Mr. Redmond said the Irish situation was extremely grave. Only success of the Convention would prevent a period of chaos and anarchy unprecedented for a century. The existing policy was the greatest danger to the Convention. It was widely believed in Ireland that certain people in England, and Ireland would gladly see the Convention destroyed, hoping that Ireland’s last hope of self-government would perish in the resultant anarchy, and perhaps bloodshed. He acquitted the Irish Unionists of responsibility for this condition of affairs. The Convention proceedings had been without any bitterness, The discussions had now reached a critical stage. Many of the authorities acts were provocative and irritating, causing the growth of Sinn Feinism. He moved the motion in order to urge Mr Duke to exercise his controlling powers. Mr. Duke replied that every act and policy was justified otherwise order would not have been maintained. The Government’s one desire was to create an atmosphere,: of goodwilK He pointed to Ireland's present prosperity and practical immunity from the misery afflicting the rest of the world, yet the Empire’s avowed enemies enrolled 200,000 young Irishmen in order to create a new rebellion. Parliament, with unprecedented magnanimity, considered that central Ireland received the promised self-government; it had not a right to force conscription, The Sinn Feiners declined to participate in the Convention, but there had been a hurricane fire of rebel oratory throughout the country. There had also been parish, of a new* rebel force, who had been told that there was a considerable quantity of arms ready, and more when the fatal day Comes. Whence come these arms? The helping hand which brought about the rebellion in 1916 was Germany ’si When it became necessary in February to deport persons engaged in conspiring ii was because Germany’s hand was again hold out, and the Government knew it. The Government could not ignore the organisation of this volunteer force or its declared purpose. The Sinn Fein leaders aimed to defeat the Convention. Mr Asquith hope that nothing would be done to defeat the Convention

SPEECH BY MR LLOYD GEORGE. AN IMPORTANT PROMISE. LONDON, October 24. Mr. Lloyd George said the situation in Ireland was most difficult and most delicate. Mr. Duke had striven his utmost to avoid any provocation which would endanger the usefulness of the Convention. De Valera’s speeches were cold-blooded incitements to rebellion. It was essential that the Government give, a clear indication that it would not allow the speeches to be repeated. Germany once nearly succeeded in landing arms in Ireland to aid the rebellion. The Government knew that arlangements were being made by Germany to land arms again from America There had been a deliberate attempt to enlist, enroll, and organise hundreds of thousands of young Irishmen preparatdj to the rebellion. If they had been Englishmen they would ha've been compulsorily enlisted in the Army. The Sihn Reiners’ idea of Home Rule was not self-government but complete secession from England. We could not possibly agree to that. (Cheers.) He was willing to give an undertaking that if the Convention arrived at a substantial agreement the Government would use its whole power to translate the agreement into an Act of Parliament. Such a Bill would be carried ' through immediately. Mr. Dillon intrejected: This is very important. Will the Prime Minister pledge the Government the Convention comes to an agreement i to embody it in a‘Bill and pass it I through Parliament as soon as possible I Mr. Lloyd George. Certainly, This has always been the Government’s in- 1 tention.