MR ASQUITH IN REPLY

Press, Volume L, Issue 14899, 12 February 1914, Page 7

MR ASQUITH IN REPLY

SEtTLEMENT NOT DESPAIRED OF

, Mi* ASquitfc, who was given a great reception, declared that the recent byelections indicated no change as regatfds the attitude of the electorate t<j*ards Home Rule. A dissolution ff&oid be useless. It would reduce" the Parliament Act to a. nullity and might result in a condition of stalemate. If the Opposition wefe victorious they would be faced with the problem of governing an Ireland in which threefotirths of the people would bo bitterly disappoint. He nskwl whether, if the Liberals gained a majority at an election, Ulster would lay down its arms. There was no reason why Ulster should change its opinions because a number of British electors; imperfectly informed on Irish affairs and more in-

in the land question, tariS reform, or tEe Insuranco BUI, chose to say so. Ho asked the Opposition if they would give a guarantee that the Measure if approved by the electorate, fioould pass intd law. * Sir Edward Careon: Wilt you drop Home Rule? ' Mr Asquith replied: "There is no parity between the two positions. You control the Lords. If the matter can be settled by something in the nature w a general agreement it is much better that it should be settled hero and *6#.'» Eβ regretted that the conversations with .Mr Bonar Law had failed

to rtach an agreement, but he did not despair of the possibility of a settlement being attained. He thought the r*tt4fe© in The Kind's Speech was edsoetl i n every cbrucr of the House. .J r said ho was not even SWJ& to pronounce final judgment faSi&St the exclusion of Ulster, though . **6n % tho Opposition regarded it as un- ;-, Cesirable. k only means the escape : -trom more formidable evils. Personally he favoured Sir Horace Plunkett's p.an df including Ulster with the ;*£*«» ff'Wl'isiQn after a time. -«W ult K concluded by r-aying tfiat any conation* must be regarded *s the price oiVpeaco. By this he did

not mean avoidance of civil strife, but peace which would enable the Irish Government to start in an atmosphere which would give it a fair chance oi' working successfully. He could not heiieve tho country was reduced to euch insolvency of statesmanship that it could uot with an honest mind and goodwill avoid tho evils and dangers ahead. Directly the necessary financial business was completed, tho Government would put forward suggestions to secure a settlement.