IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, 31 July 1918, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

WHY IRELAND HOLDS BACK. LONDON, July 29. Mr John Dillion, moving in the House of Commons a resolution condemnatory of the Government’s Irish policy, declared that the Irish were holding back from, the war because they believed the Government was determined to break faith with Ireland, and that, conscription would be im--1 posed on Ireland in order to torpedo Home Rule. Mr. Dillon suggested a settlement of the Home Rule problem through the agency of President Wilson. DEBATE IN THE COMMONS, LONDON, July 29. j A debate on Irish affalts arose in , the House of Commons on Mr. Dillon’s ! motion, drawing attention to the state of Ireland and condemning the Government’s policy. Mr. Dillon said he felt justified in raising the question as a war issue, which, if it remained unsettled, would be a source of weakness and embarrassment to the Empire at the peace conference. Britain had accepted the principle of a League or Nations, which could not be created unless Britain was prepared to submit to the judgment of civilised mankind in this. The Nationalists had struggled to save the constitutional movement and bring Ireland into the war, but the Government had done? everything in its power to drive her out. The Government instituted a system of universal coercion in its do cision to apply conscription, whicn wals ill-advised. The net result was tying up many troops in Ireland. Justice and honour demanded that the Government should attempt conciliation. If the Government had not betrayed. Mr. Redmond, Irish soldiers would be fighting to-day in ever-in-creasing numbers. How could Britain claim that she was fighting to free the subject'races of Europe while Ireland was fettered by the tyranny of the military government of Ireland. He believed the Home Rule Act would be treated as a scrap'of paper. German plots in Ireland bad succeeded In depriving Britain of Irish troops, compelling large garrisons to be retained. Germany would have failed ignominrously but for the methods of the Government and the War Office. ■ Sir Edward Carson said the situation was desperate. If the Government persisted in its present policy, a friendly settlement woudl become impossible. Mr. Dillon suggested that they should ask America for a scheme or settlemeint. He was prepared to accept the verdict of a jury of ‘Americans appointed by President Wilson. Mr. Shortt (Under-Secretary for Ireland) denied the charges. The Nationalists, not the Government, were responsible for making matters worse. The Government was compelled to take strong measures. The country was a mass of sedition. A complete military system, skilfully organised, Was discovered in the west and south, secretly importing explosives. Instructions were circulated how to dcstroy bridges and communications, and cut railways. The situation was improving. Ireland was exceedingly prosperous. Mr. Dillon’s motion was defeated by 245 to 106. Mr. Shortt, continuing, said: Illegal drilling had practically disappeared. There wcr e still hidden printing presses, which were very difficult to fine*, spreading highly seditious literature, but the Government was stamping out these as fast as it it could. He hoped that as Ireland became more peaceful, something would be done to secure Home Rule, which the whole United Kingdom demanded a year ago. The measure would not pass at a general election to-day. Mr. Asquith said the debate was a further proof of the supreme and overwhelming importance of securing a settlement of the Irish question. It was the dying Parliament’s duty to put the question on a better basis for its successor. The Conscription Act had aggravated the Chief Secretary's difficulties by creating an atmosphere which shifted the balance of political opinion temporarily from the constitutional to the revolutionary party. This was a serious state of things. He appealed to the Government, in the interests of the Empire and the allies, to try even at the eleventh hour to find a settlement. He also appealed to the Nationalists and Ulstermen to join in a common recruiting platform. Apparently the Dominion representstives were unwilling to consider the problem. If that were so. probably President Wilson would also be overcrowded with war matters, and the House of Commons would have tc make another effort, at a settlement. Mr. Devlin said the Nationalists bait done their share. Ulster had senv 58,000 recruits, of whom 20.000 were Nationalists. The rest of Ireland hr"' "rev’ded 65 000 ,of whom about 10.000 were Unionists.