IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, 12 April 1918, Page 6

IRISH AFFAIRS.

, \ w > f mb LLOYD GEORGE SPEAKS 12 STRONGLY. ’ jj- LONDON, April 10. Tn Tiia speech on the war situation, * Mr Lloyd George, referring to Ireland 4&id an emergency had arisen necessitating men of 50 and hoys of 18 joining the army. He was perfectly certain it was impossible to justify any longer the exclusion of Ireland. (Cheers and Irish dissent). No Home Rule proposal ever submitted to the House of Commons ever proposed to deprive the Imperial Government of full powers on all questions relating to the Army and Navy, so there was no derogation of any national right, The struggle wherein we were engaged was just as much Irish as English; it was even more so. It was more Irish, Scotch, and Welsh than English. Ireland, through her representatives, at the beginning of the war, voted for the war and supported the war. There was no dissenting voice among the representatives. America was in the war, There were more Irishmen in the United States than in Ireland. They were subject to conscription. Irishmen in Great Britain were subject to conscription, also Irishmen In Canada. It was indefensible that we should ask youths of 18i and married men of 50, with families in England and Wales, to fight for the freedom and independence of a small l .Catholic nationality in Europe, while Irishmen aged 20 to 25 were not obliged to take arms for the cause .which was as much their’s as ours. It was illogical and unjust. Henceforth the Premier was subjected to a running hostile commentary from the Irish benches.

' 'The Premier proceeded to say that the Irish battalions were becoming steadily depleted, and -were now halffilled by Englishmen. Therefore it was proposed to extend the Military Service Act to Ireland, under the same conditions as in Britain. There was no register of Ireland. Hence it would take some weeks before enrolment began. (There was a further considerable uproar and cries of “Ireland will not have it at any price.”)) Premier, continuing said there must

be no delay. ■Mr. William O’Brien: That’s a declaration of war against Ireland. The Premier, continuing said the 'Government w)itllou,t' dblay intended to ask Parliament to pass a measure of self-government for Ireland (Renewed Irish uproar and cries “Keep it,”); but there must bo no misapprehension. The question of Home Rule and Irish conscription did not hang together. Each must be taken on its merits. (Irish cries “You can keep both.”).

The Premier :“That is a new view as regards .Home Rule. The report of the Irish Convention afforded another opportunity for approaching this vexed question with some hope of success. (Irish uproar.) ' Mr. Devfin, interrupting, asked whether he could move the adjournment of the debate until the Convention's proposals were before the House. The Speaker, said a motion, could be put after the Premier's speech. The Premier,. continuing, said he understood the Convention’s report was reached by majority, but he was afraid the majority was insufficient to enable the Government to say it represented a substantial agreement. That meant that the Government must accept the responsibility for submitting to Parliament, with the guidance of the Convention’s report, such proposals for the establishment of selfgovernment in Ireland as were just and could be carried- without violent controversy. The Government proposed to introduce such a measure at an early date, and advise the House to pass it without delay. When a large number of youths would be brought into the firing line, it was right that they should feel they were not fighting to establish a principle abroad which did not apply to them. (Irish uproar.) The Premier proceeded: T ‘The appeals which we addressed to the Dominions provided a fine response. (Cheers.) They have already furnished about a million magnificent fighting men, and all are taking the necessary flfefps to jsend more. The Premier* hoped it would be possible to pass the “Never,” and cheers from other parts of the House.)