THE RIGHT ROAD.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 September 1921, Page 5

THE RIGHT ROAD.

HOPE FOR IRELAND. GENERAL SMUTS' BELIEF, CONFIDENT OF PEACE, By Telegraph —Press Assn.—-CopyrTgfit. Received September 1, 8.45 p.m. Capetown, August 31. General Smuts was accorded a civic welcome on his return from England, where he represented South Africa at the Imperial Conference. In the course of a speech, General Smuts dealt with the Irish situation. He Raid he tried on arrival in England to see if some moderating influence could not be brought to bear upon the horrible situation, and he adopted the attitude that if he had anything to do with it it must be upon two conditions. Firstly, he would not take action unless invited by the leader of the Irish people themselves, and he acted only when he received that invitation. The second condition was that he did not want to be connected with the British Government, but to act from an entirely outside point of view as a third party, bringing to bear on an old situation his peculiar experience acquired during the many bitter years in the history of Africa.

On those conditions he entered into a discussion with all parties concerned. He succeeded in persuading the British Government that any scheme of Home Rule, to give satisfaction in Ireland, would have to go much further than they had gone before. He explained the Dominion point of view, and the Government agreed with him that was the solution. Now they had reached a difficult, ’but, by no means hopeless, stage, but they must not be under the impression that what had been done had been a failure. He felt satisfied success would come from a people talking peace instead of murdering each other. There was a new atmosphere in Ireland. It would take time and perseverance, but they were on the right road. He believed the British Government and the other parties would be persuaded to come down to bedrock, which was Dominion Home Rule.

General Smuts also appreciatively reviewed the work accomplished at the Imperial Conference.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable