HOME RULE.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 April 1920, Page 3

HOME RULE.

bill in the commons SECOND READING CARRIED. By Telesrnph.—Press ABan.-—Copyright. London, March 31. The second reading of the Home Rule Bill was carried by 34S votes to 1)4. In the course of the debate Mr. Asquitb disagreed with the view that order must be restored before constitutional changes could be considered. He expressed the opinion that the root of the mischief would not be touched until, by wide reforms in the system of Government, the general co-operation of Irishmen was enlisted in the enforcement of law. He recalled his pledge that the vast majority of the people of Ireland should have an Irish legislature with an Irish executive subject to the necessary safeguards for Imperial supremacy and the protection of the Irish minority. Replying to an interruption by Mr. Bonar Law, Mr. Asquith said his pledge involved the grant of a Parliament to the whole of Ireland. The Bill was cumbrous, costly, unworkable, and not demanded or supported by any section of Ireland. A DOMINION STATUS. He suggested that the Home Rule Bill should be retained, but amended in some of the most vital particulars. For ample, the powers of Irish Parliament and Executive under the Act should be enlarged so as to give them practically a Dominion status, though he admitted the geographical contiguity of Ireland made an important difference in her position, particularly in the military sense, from the position of the Dominions. He also suggested extensive financial adjustments and county option in Ulster. » Mr. Bonar Law emphasised that the Government had been compelled to introduce the Bill at present because otherwise the Home Rule Act would automatically come into oneration. also Ulster must not be brought under the Dublin Parliament except, by her own free will. The Bill was intended to give Ireland the largest measure of Home Rule compatible with national security and the pledges given. Mr. Asquith's suggestions did not mean Dominion Home Rule, the essence ,of which was the Dominions' control of their fighting forces, whereas Mr. Asquith proposed to reserve control of the anned forces. The connection of the Dominions with the Empire depended upon the Dominions, and if anyone chose to-morrow to say: "I will no longer remain part of the Empire, we should not force them." QUESTION OF A REPUBLIC. Dominion Home Rule meant the rinlit lo decide their own destiny. This was demanded by the legal representatives of the Irish people, and Tor Mr. Asquilh to say he was prepared to give Dominion Home Rule must mean nothing less than that he was prepared to give an Irish Republic There was no difference between honestly granting Dominion Home Rule and openly giving self-deter-mination to the elected representatives of Southern Ireland. He challenged Ihe I.aborites to say whether they meant that if the elected representatives of Ireland wanted a Republic they would give them a Republic.

Mr. Bonar Law continued: If the Bill became law and the Sinn Feiners refused to work the Parliament, provision would be made in the Bill for an immediate reversion to the present position. If the whole of Southern Ireland would have only a Republic no settlement was possible. If, however, there was a sane element amongst, the population he did not believe with a Parliament operating in another part of Ireland they would refuse to work the southern Parliament.

Mr. Devlin strongly attacked the Bill. They might send the whole army and navy to Ireland, but might was right only for a time. A nation's heart's desire was only satisfied by the recognition of the spirit of justice and the concession of freedom.

SIR E. CARSON'S VIEWS. Sir Edward Carson, while recording his unalterable opposition to the whole policy of Home Rule and disclaiming responsibility for the scheme, said it would have been easy for him to say he would continue to fight to a finish, but the cardinal facts were that the Act ot 1014 was on the Statute Book and pledees had been given to Ulster. Many of his old friends were calling him a traitor because he was not fighting to the end, but he had been offered a Parliament for six counties and could not ask Ulster to get rifles to fight for what they were offered peaceably. He would not vote for the Bill, but would not prevent its passing. He challenged the Laborites to go to the country with the announceed determination to drive Ulster under the Sinn Fein Parliament or give Ireland an actual or potential Republic. Mr. Adamson, dealing with Mr. Bonar Law's question whether the Labor Party was prejftred to give Ireland a Republic, pointed out that granting Dominion Home Rule had not resulted in the establishment W any independent Republics. In the contrary the colonies, which had been granted it had been earnest friends and supporters of the Mother Country. Why, then, should the grant of Dominion Home Rule to Ireland bo dangerous. Personally he suggested either the grant of full self-government of Ireland with a provision for the protection of minorities, the questions of defence and foreign relations being reserved for the Imperial Government, or that an Assembly representing the whole Irish people be elected by proportional representation and a new constitution ivith a similar provision and reservations should be drafted. Dublin newspapers pour scorn on the Home Rule scheme. The Freeman's Journal says it is dishonest. and a great sham. The Government's real purpose is to promote disorder and anarchy. The Independent describes the Bill as an unclean thing. The Trish will fling it back in its author's teeth. The Irish Times says the Government has not left the Bill the faintest chance of success.

LORD MAYOR OF CORK. London, March 30. Alderman M'Swiney lms been elected Lord Mayor of Cork. He is a Sinn Fein leader who has been deported and imprisoned several times. During military raids in Londonderry, Tyrone, and Donegal, a number of prominent Sinn Feiners were arrested, included Mr. Sweeney, member of the Bouse of Common*