The Irish Question

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 293, 14 May 1914, Page 5

The Irish Question

THE OPPOSITION'S UNWAVERING HOSTILITY.

THE ONLY HOPE OF PEACE. — DUBLIN EXECUTIVE QUITE UNACCEPTABLE.

By Cable —Press Association—Copyright London, May 12. Mr. Asquith, in moving the resolution to abolish the committee stage of the Home Rule, Welsh Disestablishment, and Plural Votes Bills, said it was futile to spend time on suggestions at this stage when the House of Lords were going to reject the Bills. The Government

■Would introduce a .ill amending the Home Rule Bill, hoping it would be pasr aed by agreement. The Bills, would be- • come law practically simultaneously. Mr. Gladstone (M.P. for Kilmarnock) complained that the Government was not carrying out the spirit and inten"tion of the Parliament Act. Mr. Asquith's announcement that he would introduce an amending Bill, even if efforts at peaceful solution failed, surprised the Nationalists. Mr. Redmond declared that he could not approve of an amending Bill, un- . less based upon a peaceful solution. He refused to commit the Nationalists. Received 13, 10.15 p.m. London, May -13.

Mr Asquith said tbe Opposition's at■titude was one of unwavering hostility, and if there was to be something in the nature of an agreed, settlement, must be accomplished through an P amending Bill. He asked for the third reading of the IJome Rule Bill before Whitsuntide, whereafter the Government would introduce an amending Bill, which would be introduced either in the MKV or tlie Commons, he was un- • decided^which. The announcement manifestly surprised Mr Redmond. Mr Asquith, proceeding, said that the suggestions put down for disestablish-

ment would entirely reconstruct the Bill,""and there was not one which the 'Government eould accept, so why waste time in academic discussion? They insert amendments. The Government would allow full discussion on the return of the Bill to the House of •Commons.

Received 13, 10.20 p.m. London, May 13. Mr Bonur Law said that before the third reading of the Home Rule Bill, the House should know the Government's proposed* amendments. Xhe only 'hope of peace lay in the Go7eniment's influence with the Nationalists. The latter would l>e less willing to make concessions after the third reading. Mr Balfour said that if the Government was submitting an amending Bill it implied that the other Bill was •tefective. , Mr Lloyd George: If every offer put forward by the Government were so treated, that wis the way to promote •civil war. Uproar ensued for two minutes, with Cries of "Shame," and "You are a disgrace to the country.'' Mr Balfour said the abandonment of the suggestion stage was a reversal of the policy that Mr Asquith had recommended when he introduced the Parliament

Act. The Government now admitted, ' ■ *fter the Bill bad run the gauntlet for three years,-, that they were unable to place the Statute Book. They could ariJßid it. but no amendment Whiei left in the Bill provision for a ' Dublin Executive could receive the Opposition's support. lie begged the Government to defer the third reading until the House saw the terms of the Bill. The Premier's motoin was carried by -«76 votes to 19-1.

GUX-RUNNING AGAIN. THE CItnSI.RS ELUDED. London, May 12. The Belfast Echo asserts that a steamer, evading the destroyers in the north-east of Ulster, landed twenty machine guns, volunteers conveying them inland.