IRISH PROBLEM TO BE FACED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3091, 23 May 1917, Page 5

IRISH PROBLEM TO BE FACED

A CONVENTION OF IRISH INTERESTS MR, LLOYD GEORGE'S PROPOSAL DISCUSSED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS (lie-e. May 22, 5.30 p.m.) London, May 21. In the House of Commons. Mr." Lloyd George (the Prime Minister) made a 'statement regarding the Irish Convention. This, he said, would comprise representatives of the local government bodies, the churches, the trade unions, and commercial and educational interests. The sittings would bo held behind closed doors. "The Government would accept: its responsibility if a substantial agreement were reached." Mr. Lloyd George referred to the successive failures of attempts by English Governments to secure a settlement of the Irish miestion. He had therefore decided to invite Irishmen to put forward proposals and try their own hands at forming an instrument of government. The experiment had succeeded in the Dominions, and he could not help thinking that what had succeeded there might be achieved in Ireland. He therefore proposed to summon immediately a convention of Irishmen in Ireland to submit to the British Government'and Parliament a Constitution for the government o,f Ireland, within the Umpire. It must' be representative of all 'classes and interests, including .the Sinn Feinoi-s, and nnist reallv represent Irish life and' activities in all their forms. It was suggested that the chairman should be nominated by the Crown and the terms of reference should be those contained in his letter to Mr. Jfedmond. Parties entering the convention should be pledged to no conclusion, but each man should be pledged to do his best as an Irishman, a patriot, and a man of honour to settle the controversy. If substantial agreement were reached, the Imperial Government would accept the responsibility of taking all the necessary steps to give legislative effect to that agreement. The Government felt that a settlement would materially help to further the successful conclusion of the war. Irishmen had a passionate love of libertv, and he wanted them to be ranged on tlie side of the Allies, not torn liv conflicting emotions. We would need all our strength to win, ard our triumph would bo worthy of the sacrifices that had been made by the Empire. AV« could not afford to have' this uncured sore that had sapped the vigour of the Empire He appealed, therefore, io their patriotic spirit ,to help in the healing of that sore. , „, T. , - Mr .Tohn Redmond fjio Irish Nationalist Leader) said that the Prime Minister's-.proposal was entirely novel one. He was willing to scree to a limited representation of the Trish Party with an equally large representation of Ulster and generous representation of the Sinn Veiners. He approved the proposal to have a, small nominated element, and also that the Crown should nominate the chairman of the convention. He felt sure that the hone in the result of the conference would be blessed for Ireland : and the Empire. Ho , wholeheartedly hoped that the convention would bo animated by the true spirit of conciliation among all Irishmen. Sir John Lonsdale 1.E.), speaking for the Ulster Partv, said that the proposal would be subirjjrted to Ulster with a recommendation that it be carefnlly considered. The people would be guided by the same patriotic motives which had always guided them. Though ho did not feel sanguine about the result, ho and his collea"ues would not lake the responsibility of closing the door on the experiment. .. ~, . , Mr. William 0 linen, while welcoming the proposal, warned tho Government that great difficulties would have to be overcome in tho selection of the convenMr Asquilh pointed out that, there was no dissent from the Government proposals. On the contrary, a large part of tho Irish nation heartily embraced them. ~,.,1,1 Sir Edward Carson said he 'had found no reason to modify the opinion he had always held that the best solution was the maintenance of the union. He urged that i.f tho convention met, delegates should attend without set proposals. "Whether Ulster participates in the conference or not," he said, "sho will not be influenced by threats." He was with Ulster to the end.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable A'ssn."Reuter.

DISCUSSION IN THE LORDS "SCRAP PAST HISTORY!" (Rec. May 23, 0.20 a.m.) London, May 22. In the House of Lords, Viscount Curzon emphasised the point that the war alone had led the Government to try to solve the Irish difficulty. It would bo a national misfortune, he said, if one of the Irish parties stood out of the Convention. Viscount Midlcton said he was not going to treat the Convention as a foredoomed failure, but tho only peaceful solution that he and his friends -=?ould accept would be one of an enduring kind. "Just left the Government scrap past history, so that the Nationalists will not only receive, but also give," he said. He and his friends, he added, would not go to the Convention with a rope round their necks. The Marquis of Lansdowne repudiated the charge that he had wrecked the last attempt at a settlement, which had failed because they could not settle the details. Opinion in Ireland had since hardened against partition. He -was not hopeful regarding'the conference, but if it failed it would be Ireland's fault. suspicious Tndjnpatriotic A SINN FEIN MANIFESTO. (Rec. May 22, 5.20 p.m.) London, May 21. The Sinn Fein Committee has issued a manifesto in which it states that it distvusts .the convention proposal. "The Government," it says, "has already pledged its support to a small section of the Irish who refuse to abide by (ho decision of their fellow-countrymen. This will preclude the, possibility of a settlement by means of a convention. Such a. convention, if held, must be free from English influence—free, if it desires, to declare the complete independence ot Irelaud."-Aus.-N./-. Cable Assn. MR. LLOYdIkORGE'S LETTER Til his letter to Mr. Redmond. Mr. Lloyd George said, with emphasis, that any settlement .they could propose in war time must, be one substantially accepted by both sides. He was unable to negotiate with the Irish representatives owing to the decision of the Nationalists not to negotiate with the Government. The Government, he said, would, seek to concede tho largest possible measure of Home Rule that could be secured by agreement at this moment. Parliament would effect a final settlement after tho war of the ciuestion most in dispute. lie was prepared to introd'ueo a Bill granting Home Rule to Ireland, and excluding six counties in Ulster, such exclusion to bo subject to the reconsideration of Parliament at the end of live years, unless terminated in the meantime by the proposed Council of Ireland. The Bill proposed that tho Council ot Ireland shall consist of all the members returned to Westminster from the excluded'area and a delegation of equal numbers from 1 lie Irish Parliament. The Council would bo empowered by a majority of votes of each delegation to pass private Bills and legislation affecting any part of Ireland; to recommend tho Crown to extend the excluded area under any Act of the li-ish Parliament; to agree to the inclusion or the whole of Ireland under the Homo Rule Act, subject to the assent of the majority of the' voters in the excluded [area.; and to makn recommendations noon Irish questions, including tho

amendment of the- Homo Rule Act. Tim President of the Council would be elected by agreement between the delations, or, in default of agreement, by the Crown. Tlio Government considered that the financial proposals in the Homo Eulo Act were unsatisfactory and ought to be reconsidered, while a number of important objects, such as the development ot industries, housing in the towns, ami .education; cannot be adequately dealt with under that Act without unduly burdening 1 the Irish taxpayer. A conference, similar to the Speaker's Conference oil Electoral Reform, would follow the second reading ut tlio proposed Bill, which is as far as the Government can possibly go in the crisis of the great war. It is prepared to introduce such measures if it is assured of something liko a second reading acceptance by botii the Irish parties. As an alternative, and in the last resort, it would propose a convention of Irishmen of all parties for the purpose of producing a scheme of self-government. The Constitution of the Union of South Africa was framed in spite of the most formidable difficulties and obstacles, by a convention representing all the interested parties in the country, and the Government believes that a'similar expedient in Ireland might possibly bo effectual.