PRESS COMMENT

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3024, 10 March 1917, Page 10

PRESS COMMENT

'. ■ London, March 8. .The "Daily Chronicle," in a leader, says: "If all parties wore willing last summer to accept a settlement on the lines of Mr. Lloyd George's announcement it would have been settled then. It is too late now, ai»l Mr. Lloyd Goorgo knows it. He knows he is offering what tho Nationalists cannot accept, because Ireland will not. The Nationalist withdrawal emphasises not unjustifiably the barrenness of the Government's attitude. Tho rfial blame lies on last summer's wreckers."

The "llorninp: Post's" Parliamentary correspondent' says that Mr. Asouith's suggestion of assistance liy Dominion statesmen has not met with a practical response from the National-

ists. There is no ground for believing that Mr. Asquith consulted Dominion statesmon before- his speech. There is reason to believe that thoy are unwilling to be drawn into British domestic politics at a critical stage i>f the war. Arguments in favour of such attitude would bo irrefutable.

Tho "Daily Telegraph" states that it is believed the Nationalists will enter into active Opposition in the hope of forcing a general election. Sixty-fire of the party followed Mr. Redmond, but Mr. Healy and six O'Drienists aud Mr. Ginnell remained.

The "Daily News" says: "Men of every party must endeavour to avert the dangers which yesterday's events must precipitate. Mr. Lloyd George's suggested conference is ' hopeless in view of the wreckage of tho previous conference. If Mr. Redmond's solutioja proves impossible of. realisation, let the Government endorse Mr. 'Asquith's proposal for the Imperial Conference's assistnnoe. ' It may retrieve yesterday's misl..!:e at tho eleventh hour."

Tho "Daily Express" says: "Mr. Lloyd George has taken a strong, direct line on the Irish policy; Mr. 'Redmond has thrown statesmanship overboard. The debate gives little hope for a settlement. The Government will not neglect to use tne Imperial Conference or any promising road to salvation, but Ulster is tho crux of the problem. If the upshot is , a revolt, Britain is strong enough to deal with it."

•Tho "Daily Graphic" says: "The Government is responsible for last night's spectacle Mr. Lloyd George's, offer was' , a stop backward, not for-: ward. If ho wanted to create resent-! ■wont in Ireland lie could not have; flbqsen a .better way. The result must; he to send the Nationalists and their> followers to the standard of rebellion.; Mr. Asquith's suggestion is at least; hopeful, and deserves prompt atten-;' tion." , .

A BARREN TOPIC ; (Rec. March 9, 10.20 p.m.) , \ London, March 8. \ In the House of CoTtimons, Mr. Bonarj Law said that he saw no advantage inj resuming yesterday's discussion on the. Irish question.—Router. ; A MANIFESTO ' i TO AMERICA AND THE i DOMINIONS. j (Rec. March 9, 10 p.m.) London,' March 8. ■ •The Irish Nationalists have sent aj .manifesto to the President of the'] United States and tho Prime Ministers ■• ■of Now Zealand, • and; Canada,, stating that Mr, Lloyd' George's attitude is a breach of Ifaith, with'the Irish' Party and nation, and that >vhilo resolved to do nil in their power to aid in tlie ending of the war ! tho Nationalists are hound to oppose the Government by ferCry means. — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ; WHAT THE OVERSEAS DELEGATES \ THINK-■ .. , (Hec. March 10, 0.45 a.m.) \ '~ ' .London, March 9, ; The . oVerseas Relegates are disiu- - clined to discuss the Irish question, chiefly because the question may come before the Imperial AVar Council. Some regard the matter as , one for 'settlement by the British Parliament. , The ■ Canadians do not care to be drawn into the: matter unless Mr. Lloyd Georc;o presses for a discussion of the problem by the overseas' . representatives,— Aus,-N.Z, Cable Assn.