SUGGESTIONS TO SECURE UNITY

Evening Post, Volume XCIX, Issue 125, 27 May 1920, Page 7

SUGGESTIONS TO SECURE UNITY

BICAMERAL' LEGISLATURES FOR

NORTH AND SOUTH

A COUNCIL OP IRELAND.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COFIMOHT.)

(AUS. AND N.Z. CADLE ASSN. AND REUTEIt.)

(Received May 27, 9 a.m.)

LONDON, 24th May.

A deputation of responsible persons interested in the settlement of the Irish problem, interviewed the Acting Chief - Secretary (Mr. Walter Long) at the House of Commons. The deputation expressed its belief at the Government's good intentions, but asked for generous amendments to the Home Rule Bill, whereby fundamental unity' would be more clearly asserted. The speakers were of the opinion that the Irish Parliament should include bicameral legislatures for both divisions of Ireland, of which the Upper Houses of each should constitute a Council of Ireland invested with wider and more nnrese/ved. powers than at present provided. They suggested that the amount of the Irish contribution to the Imperial Government be left to the Irish ] Legislatures, as in the case of the Dominions, and suggested other alterations by which the status of Ireland would more closely resemble that of the J)o----minions. Mr. ~ Long, in ■ replying^ showed that the Government's task was rendered more difficult through lack of criticism, owing to the abstention of the Nationalists, and the withdrawal cf the Labourites from the House of Commons. Referring to the increase in crime, in Ireland, Mr. Long saul that Englishmen were liable to regard the concessions to Irish opinion as yielding to the forces of outrage. Ho undertook to submil the deputation's proposals to Cabinet.