THE COMPULSION BILL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLV, Issue 4141, 19 January 1916, Page 5

THE COMPULSION BILL.

IRELAND’S EXCLUSION DISCUSSED. A DEPLORABLE SITUATION. WHAT IRELAND IS DOING IN THE WAR. STATEMENT BY MR. REDMOND (Received January 18, 9.35 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 18.

In the House of Commons in Committee .on the Compulsion Bill, Mr J. Chambers (Unionist member for Belfast), moved to include Ireland in the measure. He said he was anxious to remove the stigma on Ireland. The call came to every class in the Empire and the exclusion of Ireland wa s a reproach and a disgrace. Colonel Craig (Unionist member for Down) urged Nationalists to reconsider the matter. He said Ireland could provide half-a-million soldiers. Mr Bonar Law (Secretary for the Colonies) said that if principle was involved there coukl be no justification for tho exclusion of Ireland, hut the only puropse of the Bill was to get the ’necessary armies with the least friction and division of the nation He did not believe it was possible to apply the Bill to Ireland without a considerableo amount of force and he loathed tho possibility of party strife in connection with the war. We had. perhaps, more than enough to do to fight the enemy. There would be time to fight each other later. Sir Edward Carson (an ex-member of the National Cabinet) said he uesired tho inclusion of Ireland, but would not delay the Bill or weaken the country’s position by pressing an amendment if the Nationalists would rmt eomnlv.

nor comply. Mr Redmond Gbe Nationalist leader) deplored the situation, but said conscription for Ireland was impracticable, unworkable, and impossible. Instead of increasing the army it would have the opposite effect. _ It would strengthen the contemptible minority of the Nationalists who were consistently discouraging recruiting and .undermining the Irish party. The War Office had asked Ireland for a thousand recruits weekly and recruitwas proceeding satisfactorily on that basis. Ireland’s attitude was almost miraculous. Ninety-five thousand men had recruited since the war started, making 15,143 Irishmen in the army. Ireland stood to-day witn the Emipre and the good effect was felt in every corner of the globe. A large proportion of the . Australian, Canadian and South African were Irishmen and the wave of enthusiasm of the Irish everywhere was of incalculable value to the Empire, especially in America. He urged the House not to drive Ireland and lose the strength arising. from the transformation of Irish opinion. Mr Chambers’ amendment was negatived without a division. Mr Bonar Law said the most terriblo tragedy of the war was tShosacnfi.ee of 18-year-old offiers. The necessity for getting adequate numbers prevented the Government accepting an amendment not to apply compulsion uinter the age of 21, but none would ho called up under 19 years of age. The amendment was thereupon negatived. The Government accepted as an amendment “With the exception of those married before November 2/

FORD’S PEACE PARTY.

COMPULSORY RETURN TO NEW YORK.

(Received January 18, 5-5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, Jan. 18. Tho Fordites have returned to New York owing to Mr Ford declining to pay further expenses.