IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 May 1916, Page 5

IRELAND.

STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT, BY ME. ASQUITH. CRAMMED WITH INTEREST. MARTIAL LAW CONTINUES. mi tt London, May 25. the House of Commons was crowded and hstened to the Irish statement with intense interest. Mr. Asquith said that if. a statement was made on the Consolidated Fund, £ll a general debate was impossible. He asked indulgence to say a few words uetoro the orders of the day. Mr. O'Brien asked whether there would be an opportunity for debate. The Speaker: Not on that part of the statement relating to the civil Government, but respecting the military. Several members wished to move the adjournment. Mr. Asquith said tho Government did not desire to burke discussion; on the contrary it was most anxious for it to occur, but he was not certain that the discussion could be fruitful until the inquiry now proceeding w.as finished. Meanwhile it was the Government's primary duty to restore order and to prevent the recurrence of disturbances: He rejoiced at the overwhelming evidence that the great bulk of Irish opinion of all creeds and parties had no sympathy with the recent ill-advised undertaking. J'' ■ Mr. Asquith, proceeding, said that martial law would be continued as a precautionary measure, hut he hoped it would be abolished speedily and completely. The. composition of the Irish Executive must, for the time (being, be provisional. He feared a general debate now would tend to create an atmosphere unfavorable to the appeal which his colleagues and himself unitedly felt it their duty to make without delay. His visit to Ireland was intended to get a first-hand view of the whole situation. He saw with his own eyes the heart-rending desolation which unhappy and misguided men had wrought over a large area of Dublin. He visited and talked with the utmost freedom to many of those arrested, and put himself in touch with all shades of Irish opinion with the single desire to get the truth. MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S MISSION. Mr. Asquith odded: "There are two dominant impressions one has in one's mind —the breakdown of the existing machinery, and the strength, depth, and universality of the feeling that Ireland is afforded now ,a unique opportunity for the settlement of outstanding problems, and joint combined efforts with the view of obtaining an agreement respecting the future Government. "The moment is considered a peculiarly opportune one. The great reason for this opinion is that the Irish of all creeds and classes have responded with alacrity to the call of the trencheß, and the battlefields will be for ever consecrated in the memory of Ireland equally with Britain. No one could tolerate after the war the prospect of Irishmen arranged against one another in the most tragic and debasing of all combats, an internecine domestic struggle. It would be confession of the bankruptcy of statesmanship and patriotism." (Cheers.) Mr. Asquith said that the Home Rule Act was on the Statute Book, but no one ever contemplated its coercive application, bftt what was now of paramount importance in the Imperial emergence was, if possible, that an agreement, which was thought vain before the war, should be reached between the representatives of the different interests and purposes in Ireland. The whole Government was anxious to do everything to facilitate this happy result. Mr. Lloyd George had under- ■ taken to devote himself to that end — (cheers) —and already had been in communication with the authorised loaders. In iiis future negotiations Mr. Lloyd George would carry with him the ardent hope of all the members and something more, namely, the belief that such a result could and ought to be attained. (Cheers.) Mr. Asquith appealed to the House to abstain from immediate discussion of the situation and from using language calculated to increase the serious., but not insurmountable, difficulties lying in the. way of a great and lasting settlement. (Cheers.) Mr. Redmond said that Mr. Asqiiith's solemn appeal was a test of the genuine desire for a settlement. He would therefore respond thereto. Ho hoped Mr. Lloyd George's task would be successful. He would do nothing to thwart it. Mr. O'Brien said-he also was willing to accept Mr. Asquith's advice. - Sir E. Carson agreed to forego the debate. The House thereupon emptied anil members crowded into the lobbies to discuss the situation The feature that caused the greatest surprise was Mr. Lloyd George's mission to arrange a< settlement. His Munitions Department is now working smoothly and allows him to spare the time. , The Irish negotiations are to begin immediately. Mr. Lloyd Georfee will closely consult with' Mr. Redmond and Sir E Carson, who, it is believed, will also have the assistance of Messrs Samuel, Dillon, and Devlin. Already informal conversations have been held, and probably a round-table confidential conference will be arranged ™^ !l \ L George's munitions rooms at the Metropole Optimism prevails among political circles at the good prospects for a settlement of the, vexed question. THE TRIAL OF CASEMENT. TRUE RILL RETURNED. DATE.OF TRIAL, ■ '»---; i , London, May 25. ( A special grand jury returned true , ! bills, against Casement and Bailee. Ihw 'l» the third occasion n TC yew* that a 'rand jury has been empanelled on 1 a rduu J U '.J ~ I)rev ious cases a treason charge, tne 1'™ V,U ' ,„ being that of Edward Oxford in 840, on a charge of 'having attempted to I sLt(X£ Victoria, and Colonel Lynch - "Vonl' Reading, the Chief Justice, has i for the defence, anc 'taafthi trW for June U. ]