The Dominion. FRIDAY, APRIL 3. 1914. THE FEDERAL SOLUTION.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2114, 3 April 1914, Page 6

The Dominion. FRIDAY, APRIL 3. 1914. THE FEDERAL SOLUTION.

Sir Edward Grist's calm and conciliatory speech in the debate on the second reading of the Homo Rule Bill comes as ai wekomc change after the storm aroused by the ptovoeative course taken by the Gcyemment in sending additional troops to the North of Ireland. The admission of tho Chief Secretary for Ireland (Mr. Birrku,} that 110 information had been received regarding the. prevalence of disorder in Ulster fi.eeqssitating such precautions, and that no request hau hem received from the civil authorities for assistance, knocks the foundations from under the Government's attempts to justify their action in this matter. It was an extremely unfortunate move, especially at the present juncture, mid even more mischievous was the effort to divert attention from the lirisUiko by raising the cry of "the Ariny versus the people." lii-ghf minded men will heartily endorse the view expressed by Mb. _ JoiiN ?>i i.ivos that, if the new spirit of lvasonablencs-i and conciliation is to be mainUiwd, both parties mast leave the Army out of the question. The main point of interest in Sir Etnvwn Grey's speech was his .reference to the Federal solution, and wo are told that lobby opinion regards this as an indication of improved prospects jfof a settlement, by consent.. _ Another significant aiinounmncflt is that a meeting attended by fifty Unionists

has declared in favour of a. settlement on Fcdewil lines, i'his in certainly an important development, find the discussion on the amendment which is to be tabled advwatiug this point of view should throw solnc; valuable light on the situation. The Federal solution appears to ■have been growing in favour for srtJliui : time past. All p.!rites are _ agrml that important changes in the British Constitution are no v.' inevitable, The House of Lords has to be rccSflstrucfcccl, and, whatever shape Irish self-government way eventually take, it must necessarily involve considerable alteration in the coftstifcution and powers i>f the House of Commons. There is also a widespread feeling that « large measure of teal self-government will have to, be giver, i to England, Scotland, and Wales: and it is contended with ft great deal of force that if, as Mn. Asqih¥.u haf, himself stated, Home Rule for Treland is to be regarded as part of -a greater system of devolution, it should be so planned as to make it fit in with the larger scheme of Homo Rule all renin! in which all the component parts would have to be treated alike. It has been win ted out that the present Bill \\ Giiki not fit in with -i consist cnt, run! satisfactory Federal schcine, whereas it ought io t be a model which could be copied in the ease of lis gland, Scotland, and Wales, This aspect of the, question was recently referred to by the Mascjuxs op LaksdoWnE; one of the Unionist- lea-tiers, wlw stated that if Ul.siev w-cfe to bo exeiitdsd the Bill would have to be revised to take a shape suited to the a!!oration in -its' framework, and this r-ovisjo-n might render the racaswo applicable to nther parte of the United Kingdom. It is not applicable in its present form. Mr. B.si.voi-_n reeenlly described it as an experiment in Federalism of a |>.reposterous djsU'aeter, b.eeanso it failed to treat nil the moiiibars of the Federation alike. It was, ha said, predestined to hopeless failure, and it was ludicrous to irret.cnd that it was an instalment of Some Rale, nil round, or any other form of devolution.

The forr-e of this argument is now hfijng more fully reeog'nised on both sides, and it is felt thii-t the GoWi'n* ment's proposal to exclude Ulster for a period from the jurisdiction of the proposed Dublin Parliament provides an excellent opportunity for the rccOT'Sidcratioia.. &f the _ -whole scheme frciu the TVdcral point <sf view. A very significant indication of the trend of events is shown by certain statemsiits id a reeciifc article in the Westninstift Gazette (0110 of the principal Government newspapers), atid certain comments on them by the Lor.don Times. The Gazette admits that the Ulster prob' le.m must be considered iB connection with the larger questions as to the reconstruction of the Imperial Parliament and Home Rule all round. It further states that it would be impossible for the Government of its own initiative and by its own unaided efforts to produce a new Constitution for the United Kingdom and attempt to enforce it on an, unprepared public; but, assuming that both parties are willing to bear'thei? part in ihe. work of reconstruction, a time limit should be set to any temporary settlement that may be arrived at for Ulster, and it Commission should be set up consisting of men of both parties to work out tho details of tho consequent reconstruction. The Times regards this as "it very significant proposal," which a.t least recognises certain fundamental facts—the fact that the exclusion of Ulster; while it would avert civil wsir. would be no solution of the Irish problemthe fact that the Irish problem oiwiiiOt be solved independent lv of the whole constitutional problem, including the problem of the House of Lords; and the fact that no party can solve these great problems by itself. While doubting whether a Commission is the. best ■machinery for such a task, the Time a considers that "it is a decldcd advance that thoughtful Liberals should admit how great is the task of reconstruction which their present p&l 1 icy would leave behind it." More recently eight Liberal me.nibe.rs wrote to the Gttte.ttf expressing approval of its suggestions, and pointing out Hist the Commission could do its work during the proposed period of six years during which Ulster would stand out of the Home Rule scheme. When this aspect of the Federal idea Was subsixwently brought under the notice of Mn. AsOTith he said the Cabinet was anxious t& give the fullest consideration to any proposal likely to.afford common grounds for aerree.mcnt. This cautions assurance did not carrv the matter much farther, but it hes not been allowed to dvoo, and the latest eabfegrams slioW tint Sir EdWaub Grey's t reference to a solution on Inderal line.; is regarded as a hopeful sign. It. is, r>f course, very ensv to talk about Federalism, devolution, and t-hb pen* eral reconstruction of the Constitution, but When the time comes for translating-. talk into action the tremendous difficulties of the task will make themselves Mt., and unless the .folders on both sides are prepared, to place the we.lfa.® of the country Wore partv interest* _thc/Ui">naw of disintegration, to which Dfa* Menson- v-oforred in his recent address in St.. Paul's, may cast dark shadow on the nation's outlook.