By King's Command

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 53, 23 July 1914, Page 5

By King's Command

HIS MAJESTY ADDRESSES TEE CONFERENCE. AN APPEAL TO PATRIOTISM. A PRAYER FOR HONORABLE SETTLEMENT. , By Cable. —Press Association.—ivpvTigct ■Received 22, 8.40 p.m. London, July 22. The King, addressing the delegates, Biid: "It is with feelings of satisfaction and hopefulness that I receive you. I thank you for responding to the summons. It is a matter for congratulation that the Speaker presides. '•My intervention at this moment maybe regarded as a new departure, but the oeeptional circumstances justify my action. For months we have watched with deep misgivings the course of -events in Ireland, where the trend has ieeii surely but steadily towards an appeal to force, and to-day the cry of civil war is on the lips of the most responsible and sober-minded among thpec pie. "Wc in the past have endeavored to «vt as a civilising example to the world, Bud to me it is unthinkable, as it must b" to you. that we should be brought* to the brink of fratricidal strife upon Issues apparently so capable of adjustment as those you are now asked to con-idor, if handled in a spirit of generous compromise.

"My apprehension in contemplating bi:< 'i .a dire calamity is intensified by my fee lings of attachment to Ireland, and my sympathy with her people, who have »l«iiVß welcomed me with warm-hearted •friction. "t >entlemcn, you represent, in one form or another, the vast majority of my subjects at home. You also have a dec;, interest in my dominions oversea. »■!:■> are scarcely concerned in the prompt and friendly settlement of the qui r-tion. 1 regard yon in this matter as trustees for the honor and peace of all. Your responsibilities are indeed great. The time is short, but you will, I l-now, employ it to the fullest advantage, and be patient, earnest and conciliatory, with a view to the magnitude of the interests at stake. "I pray that God in His infinite wisdom will guide your deliberations, so that the result will be joy. peace, aud an honorable settlement."

COMMENT OX THE KIXGS SPEECH. ALLEGED UXIOXIST TONE. Received 22. 10 p.m. London July 22. The Chronicle says the King's speech was ill-inspired. The cry of civil war is nothing more nor less than the Unionist party cry. The speech will only leave one impression on the Liberals, and that is as if the King had spoken of the Unionist Party as "we." and of the Liberal Party as "they." Obviously the personal character of the speech was quite tinlike an ordinary document dictated T)y Ministers, and makes the impression still more painful. The lea-.t that can be inferred is that outside tiiofficial conversations, the King cannot be in the habit of talking familiarly with the Liberals, otherwise his illusion that the world of Tory ideas is thwhole world could not be so naive.

FTRTHER OPINIONS OF THE PARTY PRESS. COVERXMENT IDENTIFIED WITH THE SPEECH. "DRTFTIW TO DISASTER." Received 22. 10.5.1 p.m. London, July 22. The Daily Xews says: "It is impossible to conceal the mistrust aroused hv the King's intervention if we dissociate the episode from the Parliament Act. We do not know who the responsible, sober-minded people may bo, lint we know that the cry of "civil war" was raised by the Tory Press and plat-' form." A Parliamentary i orrespondent says that the Government imi=t lie identified with the utterances of the monarch. The Irish Independent says that the King, however desirous of peace, has pone the worst way of achieving his object, and has exposed himself to the suspicion that he has been influenced almost exclusively by the Tory view. He should have liandled the situation more tactfully and judiciously. The Daily Mail describes the speech as deeply moving as a personal effort and of immense importance politically. As the King acted on the Ministers' advice, it may be taken that he speaks with their concurrence, and is a proof that they now Tealise Cl-tcr"s hostility and strength to resist. The Telegraph refers to the speech as a -traightforward appeal, and pays a tribute to the King's single-hearted patriotism. The Time- «-iys the spcu-li will appeal to the nation at large, and will command respect. The King has realised the danger of the State drifting to disaster of the first magnitude, and the cry about d.-f.-atiiig the Parliament Act i- absurd.

C.)NTEREN*< E MAKE-. LITTLE I'ROCKKSS. ISOCXDARIES TIIK f'RCX OF THE siTI'ATfOV. delfcates rkrorte!) to re oustinate. ] Received 22. !U."> p.m. London. July 22. At the conference litl- progress was made, duo apparently to the necessity for private oon-ultation lietv.een the ni.nih.-r- of the -ep ; ,rat" groups. The conference to-day i- expected, to di-rii-- the area of .Ac-In-ion. the crux „f the situation. Those in close touch with the negotiations ar.- not hopeful that the conference „i|l V Min-s«fu!. Opinion in Ireland p-i-anls its failure a- a foregone conclu-ioii. It is reporter! that Mr. Kcdmond informed lii> follower* that lie would resolntiU decline to vivid one i-i ■!, of the counties where Home Rule is in a mniority On the 'Unionist 1 side there is w «ju»Hy firm resolve to claim the

Mr. Devlin, in an interview, said h diil not expect any result from the eoi ferente. He did not care what tli conference did or failed to do. The u timate result nf the conference would h tlie romplcte independence of Ireland. MR. RAMSAY MACDOXALD ASTOUNDED. E BY LABOR TO " REBELS." RUMORS OF AX EARLY DISSOLUTION Received '22, 11.10 p.m. London, July •£>. V.f. Ramsay Mac Donald, in an interW'\v ~aifl: "The King's extraordinary -j'eecii makes one rub one's ryes and minder whether one is dreaming. The lciiiark a'out civil war might grace the -j ei-,h nf a Unionist candidate for Parliament." Mr. Thomas, M.P. for Derby, commenting on two rebels being invited and no bibor leaders to the Palace conference, said that bad he used language similar to Sir Edward Carson's and Captain Craig's, he would have been sent to the Old Bailey instead of to Buckingham Palace. If it were permissible fur the wealthy classes to maintain such an attitude, he would not hesitate to take his stand among his own people when placed in a similar position of trial. Radical and Independent Liberals who promoted the Liberal meeting desired that the meeting should express anxiety about the sovereignity of Parliament and suspicion of the Palace conference, but the large attendance of moderates carried a resolutiou in favor of the C.ovi rnment completing its programme under the Parliament Act before the general election. There are renewed lobby rumors that a general election is imminent. Both Liberals and Unionists share in the tnl.ef of an earlv dissolution.

DKLECATES CHEEItKI) IS\ TIIK CROWDS. London. July ->l. Dense crowds cheered the arrival 'o those taking part in the Home Hul Conference at the Palace. The Kin; r.ceived and addressed them. The ]»n> ecrdings were private, and were ad joiirncd till tomorrow after an lion and a half. It has been pointed out that this i the first meeting of Messrs. Rcdtrmn and Dillon with the Kin;', in pursuant of the Nationalists' long-cstablishc practice of not meeting- Royalty nut Home Rule is granted. The Dailv Telegraph claims authont f,.r statin" that the suggestion for t! conference was Mr. As<|uith"s, and m the King's. Lord Crewe, in the House of Lord de< land there was no departure fro Ministerial responsibility or tinnal practice. niir.cnt not to nial. Mahle to the N'ati