The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1916. MR. ASQUITH'S IRISH MISSION.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 May 1916, Page 4

The Daily News. SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1916. MR. ASQUITH'S IRISH MISSION.

Even under normal circumstances in connection with Irish affairs there are always grievances which are utilised fer i stirring up the popular apirit in that unfortunately perturbed country, but'the ; recent upheaval has certr/inly caused the , naturally susceptible people of that country to work themselves up to a high state of tension. Unless the race is grossly maligned, their natural characteristic * is to spoil for a fight (and grand warriors they make), if only to give savor to their existence. This pecular trait of dissatisfaction is mostly matter of habit and is perfectly harmless. If the weather is bad and the potatoes are a short crop, while the price is high, then they bemoan having little or no spare crops to sell, while if their crops are large and the market value low they are aggrieved at the price, but on the whole they are a splendid people if uncontaminated by the malevolent design of agitators and traitors. The deluded victims of Hun treachery have to face the consequences' of their revolt against law and order, but England's policy is always to be merciful and sometimes to err in placing leniency before justice. Now that the Dublin- uprising has been thoroughly quelled, and most of tiie ringleaders have paid the extreme penalty, there is a feeling that steps should be taken towards allaying the bitterness that is inevitable. Once more Mr. Asquith has risen to the occasion and taken upon himself the delicate task of pouring oil upon the troubled waters so as to restore quiet and harmony, if possible. He regards it as a personal duty that he should g» to Ireland at once, not to Muersede the executive, but to consult with the civil and military authorities in order to arrive at arrangements for the future that will commend themselves 'co the general sense of the Irish and of the other parties in the House. By thus stepping into the breach Mr. Asquith is doing the utmost in his power to tone down what Lord Lansdowne describes as the "most discreditable and most humil- ' ialing episode in recent history. It U orlremely prsbable that no other Minister of the Crown could succeed in th« task which the British Prime Minister hm undertaken, and'the appeal which he has made for the approximation of a greater sympathy between all parties forms a fitting prelude to the difficult work that awaits him in Ireland. How diplomatic that work must be is evi- '■ denced by Mr. Asquith's statement thai infinite mischief can be done by any wor! ' calculated to obtruct or impair the chance of obtaining a happy and desirable consummation of the efforts to , restore quiet. The very impulsiveness i of the Irish people when rightly guided ' can be relied upon to assist Mr. Asquith's efforts. This is no time for i;iiernal strife, so that it is essential for the Irish trouble to be smoothed out ' for the sake of the 'country itself, but < liicre especially in order that the minds .Uinisters may not be distracted from ]

the one great and vital work of prosecuting the war'to a successful conclusion. As to whether, any and if so, which of the responsible authorities in Ireland were to blame, that matter can well be decided by a properly constituted body. There is no question that those governing Ireland were grossly misled, and it may be they were culpably remiss in the performance of duty. The trouble came and has been dealt with, though the woeful lobs of lives and great destruction of property are much to be regTetted. The main need at present is the restoration of order and good feeling, and this can only be obtained by the exercise of consummate tact and statesmanship. It is to be sincerely hoped that Mr. Asquith's mission will not only accomplish it 3 primary object, but will tend to produce that harmony between the two countries that we must all desiro.