IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, 27 June 1918, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

AN HONOURABLE COURSE URGED EFFORT TO AVOID EXTREMES Received 8.45. LONDON, June 26. Mr Shortt, in the House of Commons said the circumstances in Ireland were complicated. When Mr -Lloyd George, early in April, explained to the House his Irish policy it was very apparent that both Home Rule and Conscription could bo carried to a successful conclusion. But since circumstances had entirely changed. Firstly, owing to the discovery of a.German plot in Ireland, which was an imminent danger to : Britain. Secondly, because -~anticon script ion feeling had been used by extremists'-in conjunction with the German plot Ho- 1 did ; not suggest there was dny substantial' proportion of an-ti-conscriptionsts',-but they were being so used as hdd been suggested. The plot was bogus, and intended to injure Ireland. He. regretted to say that if it actually existed it gave striking examples of German propaganda and intrigue in Ireland. The sources whereon the Government relied, both in Ireland and outside had been proved reliable, and .braced .to the activity of German agents f in Ireland from 1911. Since the war messages had not only come to Ireland from; German sources. The Government knew that in a certain German port a large amount of ammunition had been loaded into two subarincs, and enemy submarines were seen in the localities where disaster to shipping could not have been their object." The’ anti-coiiscfiption movenient likd produced "a recrudescence, of drilling and - seditious speaking, . the outcome being midnighLraids for arms,, wheh. entirely refuted any desire for. peaceful settlement of any : of its domestic questions. Both Lord French and he, after thorough investigation in Ireland, concluded that it was absolutely essential as a preliminary to any form of conscription that Irelaifd should be given an opportunity to voluntarily take a place in the war The Cabinet adopted that view, hence Lord French’s proclamation. It was as difficult a problem as over faced a Minister of the Crown. They would try to do their best, but they would want the help of everybody in Ireland, and of all parties to secure a settlement. Mr Shortt,’in reply to.qucsions, said: A certain man mentioned had not been sho. The Government did not desire any more executions if they could ensure the safety of the realm without, but if otherwise the responsibility would be upon those who forced it upon us. Sir Edward Carson said there were unanswerable reasons for introducing conscription in Ireland, but Mr Lloyd George proceeded to bribe Ireland by Promising immediate Home Rule He appealed to Irishmen in all parts of Ireland to vindicate their country’s honour, and take share in the war of freedom. It was not a question of Ireland assisting England); byt of' assisting civilisation being driven back to barbarism. He declared the Roman Catholic hierarchy went to some length in connection with conscription, which no modern civilised community ought to tolerate.