IRISH PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 August 1920, Page 5

IRISH PEACE.

BILL TO RESTORE ORDER.

DISCUSSED IN THE COMMONS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received August 6,11.35 p.m. London, August 5. In the House of Commons, Mr. Bonar £&w, moving the guillotine motion, providing for the passage of the restoration of order in Ireland Bill by to-morrow evening, deprecated the feeling of despair about the possibility of remedying existing conditions. These could not be worse than in 1833, after which civilised conditions were restored in Ireland.

The motion was adopted, after which Sir Hamar Greenwood (Chief Secretary for Ireland), moved the second reading of the Bill.

After paying a tribute to the courage of Irish Judges in carrying out their duties, Sir Hamar Greenwood said it was impossible to have fairer Courts in Ireland than the court-martial provided by the Bill. MR. ASQUITH OPPOSES. Mr. Asquith opposed the second reading. He said he considered the courtmartials useless, in view of a likely inability to get evidence against accused persons. The Government was largely responsible for the gravity of the situation, because.it did not introduce the Liberal measure of seii-government promised in 1918, when he asked Parliament to apply the Compulsory Service Bill to Ireland. He demanded that the Government should give Home Rule on Dominion lines.

Replying to questions if he had ever made such an offer, Mr. Asquith said no, but he was prepared to do so now. He added that he did not retract past statements about allowing Ulster Counties to stand aloof. He believed Irishmen's commonsense, and their recognition of self-interest, would lead them to accept a Dominion Home Rule scheme. Mr. Asquith concluded by stating that he believed an Irish Republic was not a practical possibility. Mr. Lloyd George said it was useless to make ill-considered and vague suggestions of Dominion Home Rule, and he challenged Mr. Asquith to name anyone in Ireland able to speak authoritatively on behalf of the Irish, who would accept it. He pointed out that the Sinn Fein members of the House of Commons, headed by De Valera, definitely stated that they would not accept it, and would not be satisfied with anything less than a Republic. "AT WAR WITH BRITAIN." Mr. Lloyd George asked if the assassination of policemen, intimidation, murder, and outrage was to be permitted to continue, without taking measures of protection. Giving Dominion Home Rule would involve an army and a navy. The Premier said every Dominion had its army, and if they had no navy it was because they had not established one under the full powers they possessed He asked if all Irish porta were to be controlled by the Irish Parliament, and declared that the Irish ports were the most dangerous spots in the Empire. Replying to the criticism of Mr. Asquith as regards the militaristic character of the Bill, Mr. Lloyd George pointed to the existence of the Irish Republican army, which, issued orders and decrees signed by generals and captains, and declared itself at war with the' British Empire. The Premier said they could therefore not complain if war conditions were being applied. If any authority who was able to show he possessed the confidence of Irishmen submitted definite proposals as Tegards the government of Ireland which were within the clear limitations recently laid down, then the Government would consider such proposals.

OUTLOOK NOT BRIGHT. Great Britain was prepared to make great concessions for peace, goodwill, and partnership. It was useless to shut our eyes to the fundamental fact that no proposal which the Government was able to present was: acceptable to any party with authority to speak for Ireland. Representatives of the Irish demanded something which Britain could never concede, except as a result of disaster and defeat. Their demand for secession would be fatal to the security of the Empire. It would be futile to propose an alternative scheme for their consideration until the Irish accepted the fundamental and undefeasible fact that Britain would never concede their terms.

Concluding, ho said deliberately that he was uijable at present to see a fair prospect of a mutually satisfactory solution, but he believed a feeling was growing up in Ireland that the Irish were seeking the impossible, and they were beginning to recognise that they were the main victims of the anarchy, confusion, and trouble. In the meantime, Parliament's duty was to protect from massacre people who went sent to guard life, establish law, and maintain the authority of the Empire. The Bill was read a recond time by 289 votes to 71.—Renter Service. IRISH CLAIM INDEPENDENCE.

Received August G, 7.55 p.m. London, August a,

A Belfast newspaper asserts that the Sinn Fein Parliament lias sent Mr Lloyd George its proposed peace terms, statin" that if Britain recognises Ireland's independence Ireland would he prepared to furnish international guarantees, properly incorporated in a peace treaty, to safeguard the British Empire's strategic interests. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.

, PLEBISCITE ASKED FOR. Received August ii. 8.15 p.m. London, August 5. A Trade Unions Congress at Cork passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal of troops, leaving Irishmen to maintain order, and decide by a plebiscite their new constitution. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. COURTHOUSE BURNED. London, August 5. Sinn Fciners at Londonderry last night burned the Moville courthouse. The Irish Crimes Inquiry Bill comes up in the House of Commons on Thursday. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.