The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1917. THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1917, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 21, 1917. THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Yet another attempt is to be made to solve the Irish Home Rule question, and the proposals which Mr. Lloyd George has submitted furnish convincing evidence that the Government is in earnest over their efforts to effect a settlement of this prolonged and thorny matter. On more than one occasion in the past success has seemed within reach, only to vanish before finality was attained. By :he present proposals the Government seeks to concede the largest possible measure of Home Rule securable by agreement, but still excluding the bU lOunties of Ulster. The immediate object is to bridge the gap during the war, the final settlement to be arranged wlie 1 the war has come to an end. It is a scheme designed as far as possible to meet the views of the conflicting parties, and provides for an Irish Parliament in Dublin as well as a Council of Ireland, the latter being the new feature. This Council is to consist of all the Irish ir. embers returned to the British Parliament by constituencies in the excluded area, together with an equal number of members of the Irish Parliament, but >t is at once apparent, if cabled details nre reliable, that the two bodies—the Council and Parliament—may be at variance, for it is proposed that the Council shall be given power by a majority of votes of each delegation to pass,

private Bills and legi-dation all'eelin.; any part of Ireland. It can also make recommendations upon Irish questions, including Ure ainendme-.it of the Home Kulo Act. 'then, appeals to bo ample scope for friction and possibly worse trouble than exists at present by having a dual control, and the freeman's Journal predicts the prompt rejection of the scheme, the merits of which do not seem to outweigh its disadvantages. It is not as if the proposals were meant to meet a deadlock between two parties who were amendable to reason, in the ordinary acceptance of the term. 'Lie intense bitterness with which the Home Rule question has been fought has placed both parties outside the influence of reason, and the gulf that separates '■liein has rather widened than narrowed. The questions of partition and exclusion are approached with the utmost hostility by both parties, and the fact that a well-meaning attempt at compromise has been made by the Government in the hope of effecting a reconciliation for at least the currency of the war, has aroused suspicions in both camps. The British Premier, however, with his i.haraeteristie resourcefulness, has put forth a somewhat tempting and diplomatic alternative in the shape of a convention of Irishmen of all parties for li'c purpose of producing a scheme of self-government. This method proved iiccessful in the extremely difficult work of framing the constitution of the South African Union, and it is thought by theBritish Government that it may prove equally successful if a; l:> Ireland. Practically this medic' -. allowing the conflicting element 11Lie their own disputes without ;li« interference of a policeman or other representative of law and order. It is certainly the most sensible proposal that has yet been evolved, and even Mr. Redmond is prepared to recommend the device to his; countrymen if he is convinced that the representation of Irishmen of all creeds, interests and parties is secured and that the convention will be summoned without delay. Apparently the Ulstcritcs look upon the proposal /ympathctically, tor Sir J. Lonsdale, on their behalf, while stating that they would oppose as strongly as ever entering Home Rule, undertook to submit the project to the Unionist Council in all good faith that it would receive duo consideration. There has already been one round-table conference on the subject when an agreement was almost reached, but in that conference were outsiders. If the parties adopt this alternative the onus of finding a solution will rest upon them. The war has done much to inculcate the doctrine of mutual sacrifices to gain :i common end, and it may he that the new spirit which is at work throughout the United Kingdom and the Empire will find a worthy sphere of activity in Ireland. There is no problem however difficult that cannot be solved by patience a,nd a determined will. If this Convention meets in a friendly spirit, the member being actuated by the noble desire to remedy an old grievance on I road and acceptable I'nes, the difficulties of the past wfll melt like snow under the rays of summer sunshine. A silution of the problem is not only possible, but it will be a test of Irish good faith. The way is open and the goal should be reached if only wise counsels prevail. Mr. 'Lloyd George has done his best, and it remains for the Irish parties to evolve a scheme that will remove the trouble which will otherwise become a canker.