HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3370, 24 December 1919, Page 5

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND.

ONE NORTH, ‘ONE SOUTH._g».

Received 8.55. a.ln. 1 LONDON, Dec. 22. Elaborate precautions was taken -to prevent Sinn Fein demonstration in the Commons, when Mr Lloyd George outlined the eagerly-«awaited Irish pro» posals. Strong guards were posted, and Nationalists were ahsent at the outset. The Premier emphasised that his part was as difficult as ever confronted any Minister, especially after the discreditable outrage on Friday. The atmosphere was charged with this week’s attempted assassination, and was not favourable to the promotion of any measure-for rec.onc.iliation, but Parliament should not be swept away by,indignation. The Pl'elrx%;el' paid an eloquent tribute to Lortlfl‘ rench, and expressed his appreciation ‘ for the Heads of the Catholic Church, who lost no time in denouncing the outrage. He stressed the fact that noproposals acceptable to British opinion would stand any chance of acceptance in the present position of Irish lafifairs. The Government’s plan wa§ based on recognition of three fundamental facts: (1) The impossibility ofpsevering Ireland from the United Kingdom;, (2) the opposition of Nationalist Ireland to British rule in Ireland, despite the fact that Ireland was never so prosperous; (3) the opposition of the‘ North-East 'toplrish rule. ‘Subject to these three i conditions, the ~ Government. proposed that self government be conferred on ‘lrel'.=Lnd through the establishment of two legislatures, one whereof to be the Parliament of Southern Ireland, the ‘other the Pa.rliamue.nt of Nlonthern Irela.nd. '

HOME RULE BILL PROVISIONS. I.LOYDIG'EORGE MAKES A STATEMENT. WIDE POWERS or THE MEASURE. Received 10.20 am. ° ‘ LONDON, Dec. 23. 111- Lloyd George said there Were four alternativet proposals ‘being dis-. cussed regarding. areas. Firstly, -that Ulster form «one unit, and the -other three provinces the other unit; secondly, county option; thirdly, that six north-eastern counties form one unit. All these-proposals contained an objection regarding the’_division of the population. The f-o.urt.h suggestion was to ascertain homogeneously bysit-lie northeastern section and constitute it a sep§.l'at.e area, eliminating where practicable the Catholic communities, whilst including the Protestant‘ communitmg ‘in doterminous‘ clounties in order to produce an area as homogeneous asflpossiblo under the circum—stances. It was further proposed“ '6O constitute a Council of Ireland, consisting of representatives of ‘both legislatures, serving as. two sections of Ireland, wher-eby joint administration of common services could be arranged. The Irish legislators would have ’com—plete discretion regarding the. powers conferred on the ‘Council, and the services to be jointly controlled. The Irish legislators also would have full constituents powers without further reference to the Imperial Parilament to create a single Irish legislature if both sections desire'd. It would thus rest with the Irish people themselves to determine whether they wanted union. As a greater inducement additional "taxing powers would be handed over to the Irish Parliament as soon as unity was aceomplislied. Reinstation at Westniinstcr would be reduced to forty. Certain powers would be reserved to the Imperial Crown, including peace, war, foreign 'affairs, army, navy, defence, treason, trade outside Ireland, ncvigation (including merchant shipping and wireless) cable, coinage, trade marks, lighthouses, and also the higher judiciary. Pending an agreement of the two legislatures regarding the method ‘of appointments, the powers of the Irish Parliament. would he most‘ consider-able. They would have full control of education, local government, land, agriculture, roads, bridges, transportation (including railways and canals), -old age pensions, insurance, municipal affairs, local'judiciary, hospitals, labour legislation, licensing, and all machinery for the maintenanee of law and order except the higher judiciary and the army ‘and navy.

Concluding, the Minister pleaded for the closing of the chapter of: miss takes, follies, and crimes on both sides. The question» now was not who was blameworthy, -but how to set it right.‘ It was important that -both countries should release thoroughly the limitations of acceptance. Unless Ireland had real control of her purely domestic, affairs it would be idle» to proceed. On the other‘ hand Britain cannot accept separation. Men who thought Britain could be compellcxfl ‘by force to concede anything unjilst to her own people or fatal to her own life and security, could not have read the story of the last five years. This was not a time when anyone could suspect Britain of conceding from weakness. 2 . "Would anyone ' ‘i};v_?l.l},!fliVL‘: :1 land that had destroyed the greats;-st

military empire of the world, largely by its own power, that it was simply quailiiig before a, band of wretched assassins. The°world would know Britain was entering‘ upon the scheme prompted.by :1. _deep sense ofrijustice; which sustained the land through ihese last wars sacrifices.