The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 25, l9l4. THE KING AND THE CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 55, 25 July 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, JULY 25, 1914. THE KING AND THE CRISIS.

If any confirmation aa to the acuteness of the crisis in connection with Home Euli. legislation wore required, it is to be found in the intervention of King George, and the summoning of party leaders to a conference at Buckingham Palace with a view to a compromise heing arrived at, and securing at least a modus vivendi without bloodshed. It is not necessary to enquire whether the initiative was taken by His Majesty or the 'Ministry, and no good purpose is served by discussing or criticising a "mere hypothetical question of that nature. The King inherits from his father that love for peace which made King Edward a powerful influence in international affairs. Fortunately King Edward was never confronted with such a grave crisis in Home affairs as that which has now arisen in Ireland, and in stepping into the turmoil at the present juncture, which is fraught with such ' momentous issues, King George has pnned true to the inheritance to which he succeeded, and has shown a wisdom that is entitled to universal praise, ■fust as it is that such an net is only justifiable when an unprecendented state of affairs has to be faced, so it is gratifying to find that the supreme head of the State can rise to the occasion with the praiseworthy and patriotic intention of securing the peaceful settlement of a question that threatens to plunge th 2 people of Ireland into the throes of a civil war, and besmirch the fair escutcheon of Britain's fame. In the deadlock which has lieen caused over the amending Home Rule Bill, and in face of the militant measures taken by Sir Edward Carson, and those working, with him against Home Rule on the. one side, and the extensive preparations for armed retaliation by the Nationalists forces in order to carry out Home Rule, therewwass s no one but the King who could possibly hope to bring about a peaceful settlement, though it is by no means certain that even this ultimate action will accomplish the end in view. In his address to the delegates ' to the conference, King George "Was tactful, statesmanlike, and straightforward. During the past few months, His Majesty lias conferred with his Ministers and also with the Unionist leaders so tha 1 : lie was presumably in possession of both sides of the case, and his words shew that he fully recognised the gravity of the situation. It was inevitable that he should refer to the preparations for an appeal to force, as it was the chief factor which undoubtedly caused i his intervention. There is not the slightest ground for the insinuation that tun been made with reference to the King being inspired by the Unionist party, the address from start to iiuish being a terse and plain exposition of his own opinions, fears, and hopes. There is not a sentence that should have been omitted or differently worded, and its loftj appeal to all that is best and most honorable stands out as a memorial to his intense humanity and love of country. He does not lay the blame for the crisis on the people of Ireland, but on those who have fanned the embers of civil strife. ''The cry of civil war," said the King, "is on the lips of the most responsible and sober minded among the people - ' —a tactful way of indicating that it was the leaders and Hot the people who are tile cause of the trouble. No Words could better conand that it was unthinkable it should actuate the party leaders than those in which the King alluded to the part which the country has played in the past as a civilising example to the world, and that it was unthinkable it should he brought to the brink of fratricidal strife upon issues apparently so capable of adjustment as those which the delegates were asked to consider, and his prayer that their deliberations will be guided so that the result will be joy, peace, and an honorable settlement is oil'- that should touch the responding chord in (Very pure heart that beats throughout the Empire. In being a party to, or even the instigator of the King's intervention, the Premier lias shown commendable wisdom and statesmanship, and there, is no good reason why the should not ultimately arrive at an adjustment that will pave the way to an honorable, settlement, and avert the calamity the magnitude of which is hardly possible to imagine.