THE IRISH PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 269, 7 August 1920, Page 7

THE IRISH PROBLEM

DEBATE ON RESTORATION OF ORDER BILL DOMINION HOME RULE SCHEME " WOULD INVOLVE AN ARMY AND A NAVY" Br Teleeraph—Presa Association— OopyrifiM (Rec. August 7, 0.5 a.m.) 1 London, August 5. In the House of Commons Mr. Bonar Law, in moving a-guillotine motion proriding for the passage of the Restoration of Order in Ireland' Bill by to-morrow evening deprecated a feeling of despair about the possibility of remedying existing conditions. These could not bo worse than in 1833. after which civilised conditions were restored in Ireland. , The motion was adopted, after which Sir Hamar Greenwood moved the second reading of the Bill. After paying a. tribute to the courage of the Irish Judges in carrying out their lio said it was impossible to have fairer Courts in Ireland than the court-martial provided-by the Bill. Criticism ,by Mr. Asquith, ■ Mr. Asquith opposed the second reading.: He said he considered court-martial useless in view of the likely inabilitv to get evidence against accused, the Government being largelv responsible ty the gravity of the situation, because it had not introduced the Liberal nipnsure of self-government promised in 19'8, when he asked Parliament to apnly the Compulsory Service Bi'l to Ireland. H° demanded that the Government give Home Rule on the Dominion lines. Replying, to qu»stion= if he had ever made such an offer, Mr. Asnuith said no.- but lie was prepared to do so now. He added that he did not retrofit Past statements about allowing the Ulster counties to stand aloof. He believed the Irishmen'' common sense and recognition of selfinterest would lead them to accent the Dominion home rule scheme. Mr! Asnuith concluded that- lie believed an Irish Republic was not a practical possibility. The Premier's Reply.

Mr. Lloyd George said it was useless to. malte ill-considered and vague suggestions of Dominion home rule, and challenged Mr. Asquith to ncme anyone in Ireland able to speak authoritatively on behalf of the Irish who would accept it. He. pointed ouMhat the Sinn Fein members of the House of Commons. headed by De Yalern, definitely stated that, they would not accept it, and not be satisfied witli anything less than, a Republic. He asked if assassination of policemen, intimidation, murder, and outrasre were to be permitted to continue without taking measures for nrotection." Tho giving of Dominion home rule would involve an army and a navy. The Prime Minister said every Dominion had an army, and if it had no navy it -was because it had not established ono under tho full powers it possessed. He asked if all Irish ports to be coutrolled by an Irish Parliament, and declared that the Irish ■ports were the most dangerous spots in the Empire. ■ Replying to the criticism of Mr. Asquith with regards to the militaristic- character of the Bill, Mr, Lloyd George pointed to tho existence of nn Iris'h republican army, which issued orders and decrees signed 'bv generals and captains, and declared itself at war with the British Empire. The Prime Minister they could therefore not complain if war conditions were being applied. If any ■,authority who was able ' to show that he possessed the confidence of Irishmen submitted definite proposals with regard to. the Government of IreJand which were within the clear liini-' iatioiis recently., laid 4own, then the Government would consider 6ucli proposals.

Prepared to Make Concessions. Great Britain was prepared to rorke great concessions for peace, good-will, and-partnership. It was useless to shut our eyes to the, fundamental fact that no proposal which the Government was able to present" was acceptable to any party with authority t<? speak for Ireland. The representatives of the Irish demanded something Britain could nevor concede, except as the result, of disaster and defeat. Their demand* for secession would be fatal to the security of the Empire. It was futile to propose au alternative scheme for'their consideration until the Irish accepted tho fundamental and indefeasible fact that Britain would jiever concede their terms. Concluding, Mr. Lloyd George said deliberately that he was unable at present to see a fair prospect of a mutually satisfactory solution, but he believijd the fooling was growing up in Ireland that the Irish were seeking the impossible, and they were beginning to. reoognise that they were the. main victims of the anarchy-, confusion, and trouble. Meantime Parliament's duty was to protect from massacre the people who wero sent.to guard life, establish law, and maintain the authority of the Empire. The Bill was read a second time by 289 votes to 71—Reuter.. SINN FEIN'S PEACE TERMS ; SENT .TO ME. LLOYD GEORGE. (Rec. August G; 7.55 p.m.) London, August 5. A Belfast newspaper asserts that the Sinn Fein Parliament has sent to Mr. Lloyd George its proposed peace : terms, stating that if Britain recognises Ireland's independence, Ireland will be prepared to furnish - international guarantees, properly incorporated in a pcaco treaty, to safeguard the British Empire's strategic interests.—Aus.-N.Z; Cable Assn. WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS ' DEMANDED, (Rec. August G, 8.15 p.m.) London, August 5. ' The Trade Union Congress at Cork passed a resolution demanding the withdrawal _ of trc'ops, leaving Irishmen to .maintain order and decide by plebiscite the new Constitution—Aus.-N.Z;' Cable Assn. CRIMES INQUIRY BILL, ■ London, August 5. The Irish Crimes Inquiry Bill' will come up in tho House of Commons on Thursday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. COURTHOUSE BURNED. London, August i. Tho Sinn Vomers in Londonderry last night burned the Courthouse at Moville, .17 miles from the .city.—Au3.N.Z. Cable Assn..