HOME RULE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 771, 21 March 1910, Page 8

HOME RULE.

A SPEECH BY LORD DUDLEY^. CRITICISM AND REPLY. By Telefjfraph—Press Association—Copyright . March 19. The correspondents arising out of a public criticism by Mr. Snowball, head of the Orange Order, of- a speech delivered. by - Lord Dudley j GovernorGeneral, at the opening of the Catholic : College,'has .been published.; .-' : ~. •Mr. Snowball, in;the course of his remarks; said: "Lord Dudley might have seen fit to sa;y that he never would countenance anybody who was not in'favour, of-giving Irisli separate rule," adding "Lord Dudley might have thought his position' as GovernorGenoral justified, him in saying such things." 1 - Lord Dudley's private . secretary wrote, pointing out the difference between Lord Dudley's actual remarks— which were that he would take no part with . any organisation' or body which had not for its purpose the advancement, progress, and prosperity of. Ireland—and those attributed to him. ■

. Mr. Snowball,-in' justifying his'critir cisms, added:,'.'lt is distinctly offensive to a -large section of the people for their: Governor-General to publicly throw his necessarily weighty official influence into the- advocacy and encouragement of an agitation for Home Rule for Ireland."

The' private secretary's ..response to this ; wa,s that Lord Dudley did not propose'..to' discuss the. desirability of either,Hoine Rule,or the government of Ireland. He had expressed no opinion regarding the former ; the latter he had advocated when he was in a. position to 'take; part in political controversy, but never, then or now, had he any sympathy with any change, of government for Ireland which would involve, ot in the slightest way lead to, separation from tho Empire. ... , The correspondence/ doses with a letter from Mr. Snowball, expressing his pleasure at perceiving .'that: Lord Dudley, had no real sympathy with those who advocated Ireland's separation. from- Britain. -' . - ■