THE IRISH CRISIS

Evening Star, Issue 15481, 1 May 1914, Page 8

THE IRISH CRISIS

THE DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

MR BALFOUR'S GREAT SPEECH

THE CONVICTIONS OF A LIFETIME ABANDONED FOR THE CAUSE OF PEACE. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright. LONDON, April 29. During the debate in the House of Commons on Mr Austen Chamberlain» motion-" That, in view of the seriousness of the Government's recently contempiatea naval and military movement in Ulster, the incompleteness and inaccuracy ot Ministers' statements, and the Governments failure to deal frankly with the situation there should be a full and impartial inquiry into all the circumstances of the cVse "—the theme became obscured by conciliatory speeches in favor of i» compromise in rega'rd to Ulster. Both sides acclaimed Mr Balfour's speech, which occupied 90 minutes in delivery, lnere was a flaming scene of wrathful, altercation between llr Balfour and Mr Churchill, the former declaring that Mr Churchill lent himself to operations which might easily have provoked bloodshed. lnen anger died away. • Mr Balfour pictured the appalling disaster of civil war, deplored the demoralising results of what had already taken place, and fully recognised Mr Churchill a suggestion of peace, which he would gladlv accept, but concluded with the assertion that they would' not get Ulster to join the rest of Ireland unless they excluded her now. Ho declared that a settlement did not mean any triumph on the part of Unionists or of himself; it rather meant tho defeat of all he had striven for throughout his political lite. It meant ruin to his cherished dream that by removing all injustice and inequality in the south and west of Ireland Irishmen might come to forget their ancient memories and share common hopes of loyalty and the heritage of the United Kingdom. It was no triumph to him; it was the failure of his life's work that in order to avoid civil war he had to submit to a separate Parliament for Ireland. _ Sir E. Carson besought the Ministerialists to believe that Ulstermen were not masquerading, but were ready to die for their principles. The Government could put Ulster down, but if they conquered her they would conquer her for something they would not give up themselves. That was the lesson the Ministerialists ought to learn. It was a desperate reality, the question they were dealing with. He deplored the conditions so much that the undeserved taunts to himself would not prevent him seeking any reasonable solution to prevent bloodshed. He would be glad to see arising in Ireland a Etate of affairs that would be the result of mutual conference and goodwill between all parts and all classes, leading to a stronger Ireland as a unit of a Federal scheme. Mr Asquith scornfully alluded to what he termed the " flimsy and contemptible " character of the case against the Government. He had been summoned to answer allegations of almost fiendish conduct. What was there to be a judicial inquiry into? Nothing but a mare's nest. He had answered 500 questions, and had been cross-examined in a manner reminiscent of the worst Old Bailey traditions. He derided the charge when made by an Opposition who complacently tolerated a piratical adventure. The speeches of Mr Balfour and Sir E. Carson might prove to be a landmark in the history of this controversy. It was impossible to listen to Mr Balfour without emotion. He had never heard a more remarkable or more touching appeal from one who for a lifetime had been a strenuous and formidable antagonist of Home Rule. But forces had been too strong for Mr Balfour, who recognised that Home Rule of some kind was inevitable. He (Mr Asquith) did not think that a settlement could be effected by bargaining on the floor of the House. A true settlement must bring everybody in. There was no good settling the matter behind the backs of Ulstermen or the rest of Ireland. The settlement must be accepted by all concerned. He welcomed Sir E. Carson's hopes _ that Home Rule might possess an ultimate attraction to Ulster, and thought the speech of the learned member was intended to help a settlement. He would never close the door to settlement until compelled by the absolute force of circumstances.

THE GOVERNMENT CLOSE DOWN,

NO MORE INFORMATION

LONDON, April 30. Replying to further questions as to Navy movements near Ulster, Mr Churchill said that quite enough information had been given, and he was not going to give more. Mr Asquith, in answer to a question respecting further papers about Ulster, said that the Government were not going to issue any more nor answer more questions after the present week. BELFAST LABOR PROTEST. LONDON, April 30. Ten thousand trade # unionists in Belfast carried resolutions* condemning English Labor leaders for supporting the Home Rule Bill. The meeting also declared in favor of Sir E. Carson's policy.

APPEAL TO CANADA.

OTTAWA, April 29,

The Right Honorable W. H. Long, M.P., Chief Secretary for Ireland in Mr Balfour's Government, has cabled to Canadian Unionists and Orangemen for financial help to fight Home Rule.

PETITION TO THE KING

LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 9 a.m.)

Three hundred thousand persons have signed the ' Daily Express's ' petition to the King to withhold his assent to the Home Rule Bill until the electorate has been consulted. WANTS GUN-RUNNERS PUNISHED. MR T. P. O'CONNOR'S VIEW. SEAMEN CHEER* THE ULSTER VOLUNTEERS. LONDON, April 30. (Received May 1, at 10.35 a.m.) Replying to Sir W. Byles (L.), Mr Asquith said that measures had already been taken which, he hoped, would prevent a recurrence of gun-running, but it was not desirable to make a public announcement. Sir W. Byles asked if gun-runners could not be punished. Mr Asquith said the Government were considering this with other aspects of the matter. • Mr T. P. O'Connor, M.P., writing in ' Reynolds's Newspaper,' says, in reference to Mr Churchill's offer, that in any arrangements which may be made the Nationalists are determined that their opinions and convictions shall be respected. Eighteen destroyers are patrolling the Ulster coast. The volunteers at Lame cheered them and sang the National Anthem. The sailors returned their cheers. The people at Bangor displayed flags in honor of the warship's visit, and asked the commander to give the usual searchlight display for the public amusement.