THE IRISH CRISIS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3025, 12 March 1917, Page 5

THE IRISH CRISIS

NATIONALIST [RESOLUTION BROKEN PLEDGES IRELAND CAN YET BE SAVED London, March 0. 'Dho Nationalists havo passed the followiug resolution:—Mr. Lloyd Gcorgo in his _ speech took up tho position which involved tho denial of self-gov-ernment to Ireland for over, and laid down. _ the principlo that the small minority in Ulster should plaoo a veto ' on self-government for united Ireland. That is a position to which the representatives of Ireland can never assent. Mr. Lloyd George assorted that he had ' never changed his position on this question of tho so-called coercion of Ireland. This is not true. Ho was a party to the drafting of tho original Home Rule Bill, which applied to _ all Ireland; ho was a party to the rejection of tho amendments excluding Ulster when, under pressure, Mr. Lloyd George and his Government weakly yielded to Sir.Edward Carson's threats of rebellion. Wo agreed on Mr. Lloyd George's pledge that the Government would see a settlement through at any cost. The negotiations in July referred strictly to a temporary war arrangc- , ment, with tho express understanding that a year after tho war things would revert to tho status quo-ante. Mr Lloyd George's speech had undoubtedly tended to intensify the distrust of the pledges of British Ministers, now sn •widely spread in Ireland, and had had a most serious effect in strengthening the power of tho revolutionary movement. The situation in Ireland and the Empire created by tho speech was ono of terriblo seriousness. Tho action of tho British Government sinco tho coalition of May, 1915, had made tho task of carrying on tho constitutional movement in Ireland almost impossible It can yet he saved, but only by tho active assistance of all level-headed Nationalists in Ireland and the aid of tho millions of tho Irish race in the Dominions and tho United States. To them wo appeal most earnestly for aid. Those who rescued Ireland from being Germany's cats-paw and tool aro now struggling against terrible odds to keep open the road to Irish liberty through peaceful constitutional means. The struggle, in which wo aro hampered by the British Government, which plays into the hands of Irish pro-German revolutionaries with stupicUperversity, is of tho worst reactionaries.— Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. ACTIVE "OPPOSITION London, March 0. The "Daily Chronicle" states that Mie Nationalists will adopt active opposition, and demand two days' discussion on tho Irish estimates, and will oppose the extension of the life of Par-liament.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. HOME REE CHAPTER, CLOSED PROBLEM MUST BE TACKLED AFRESH London, March 9. Reports from Dublin state that the country is calm. It realises that the chapter of Home Rule is closed, and that the problem must be approached afresh by new methods and from new points of view. The leaders are restrained, and are anxious not to aggravate the gravity of the situation. Tho vast body of moderates will welcome any effort to bring together the North and South. The Ulster Press dislikes Mr. Asquith's proposal to set up a commission from the overseas Dominions, and threatens te refuse any, scheme of 'i national Irish service which shall have its headquarters in Dublin, because the ■ papers bitterly resent tho official attitude of the Nationalists on the war. — Tho "Times." MOTION IN FEDERAL SENATE Melbourne, March 10. Senator Lynch has given notice of motion for tho presentation of a petition to the King, praying for a just measure of Homo Rule for Ireland.