Home Rule Bill

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 199, 20 February 1914, Page 5

Home Rule Bill

MR. BALFOUR ON TOE SITUATION "HOPELESS ENTANGLEMENT AND INEXTRICABLE MESS." By Cable—Press Association—Copyright Received 1!), 11.15 p.m. London, February HI. •Mr. Balfour said that the Bill, which was professed ,to complete the healing process in Ireland; had torn ancient wounds open. Ireland had now two opposite camps, divided by did'crcncis more irrcconciliablc than cvm\ The situation was one of hopeless entanglement, and an inextricable mess. The Government admitted that lnodilication was necessary, but what modilication was unknown, and possibly unknowable, did not believe that the Government had willingly thrown themselves into armed collision with Ulster. lie warned them, while their plans were still nullcable, not to commit the most fatal mistake of a half measure of Home Rule within Home Rule. The li.-.ed desire of Ulster was not for a Parliament at Dublin, but to be in the British Parliament on equal terms with us. '"We are now in the rapids," continued Mr. Balfour. "Even to the dullest ear the niutterings of the distant cataract are audible. Unless the Government makes a clean cut, tliev will find themselves in the remorseless current, and the Ship of State will be dashed to irremediable disaster." Sir Edward Carson said "we are prepared to sacrifice everything rather than to submit to the hateful rule. Nothing under heaven will divert us from our fixed determination."