NEW HOME RULE BILL.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1708, 24 December 1919, Page 5

NEW HOME RULE BILL.

U THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSALS. ! i TWO PARLIAMENTS TO BE j-. ESTABLISHED. By Electric Tdegrapb.—C-opyrighi, . - Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. bi Received December 24, a.m.^, 5 LONDON. Deo. 22. Elaborate precautions were taken to prel.cnt a Sinn Fein demonstration . m the iHouse of Commons when Mr Uoj’d George : outlined his eagerly awaited Irish proposals, Strong guards were posted about Uho building. The Nationalists were absent ■iat the outset. The Premier emphasised his [part was as difficult as ever confronted a ■Minister, especially after the discreditable i outrage on Friday; ■ The atmosphere was ‘charged with the reek of. attempted assassination and was not favourable to the proI motion of a measure of reconciliation, -but Parliament should not be swept away by indignation. , . 1 The Premier paid an eloquent tribute to ■ Lord French and expressed appreciation for [the heads of the Catholic Church who lost iuo time in denouncing the ..outrage. Ho i stressed tho fact that no proposals acceptable to British opinion stood any chance ■ of i acceptance in the present position of Irish affairs. The Government’s plan was based on the recognition of three fundamental facts: 1 First: Tho impossibility of severing . Ireland from the United Kingdom. | Second:, The opposition of ,the # Nationalists of Ireland to British rule in Ireland ! despite the fact that Ireland was never so prosperous. ‘ Third: The opposition of the North-east | to Irish rule. Subject do those three conditions tho Government ureposod self government should bo Conferred' on the whole of Ireland through the establishment of two legislatures, one whereof would bo the Parliament of southern Ireland, and tho other the Parliament of northern Ireland..'

THE ALTERNATIVE PROPOSALS. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received December 24. 10.25 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 22. Continuing, Mr Lloyd George said four alternative proposals had been discussed regarding areas. Firstly: That Ulster form one unit and the other three provinces the other unit. Secondly: County option. Thirdly: That the six north-eastern counties form one unit. Ail these proposals contained' objections regarding the division of population. The fourth suggestion was to ascertain the homogeneous north-eastern section and constitute it a separate area, eliminating, where practicable, the Roman Catholic communities, whilst including Protestant communities in coterminous counties in order to produce an area us homogeneous as possible under the circumstances. It was further proposed to constitute a Council of Ireland consisting of representatives of both legislatures, serving as a link botvyoen the two sections of Ireland, whereby joint-ad-ministration of common services could bo arranged. The Irish legislatures would have complete discretion regarding the powers conferred on the Council and the services to bo jointly controlled. The Irish legislatures would also have full constituent powers, without- further reference to the Imperial Parliament, to create.a single Irish legislature if both sections desired. -It would thus rest with the Irish people themselves to determine whether they, wanted union. As a greater inducement additional taxing powers would bo handed oyer to the Irish Parliament As soon as unity was . accomplished the representation at Westminster would be reduced to forty. Certain powers would be reserved to the Imperial Crown, including peace, war, foreign affairs, the .army, the navy, defence, treason, trade outside Ireland, navigation (including merchant shipping), wireless and cables, coinage, trade marks, lighthouses, also the higher judiciary, ponding the agreement of the two legislatures. Regarding 1 the method 'of appointments the powers of the Irish Parliament would bo most considerable. They would have full control of education, local government, land, roads, bridges and transportation (including railways), canals, old age pensions, insurance, municipal affairs, local judiciary, hospitals, labour legislation, licensing, and all machinery for the main-, tonanco of law and order, except the higher judiciary and the army and navy.

HOW TO SET IT RIGHT. 1 Received December 24, 11 a.m. . LONDON, Dec. 22. Concluding, the Prime Minister pleaded for the closing of the chapter of mistakes, follies and crimes on both sides. The question now was not who was blameworthy, but how to act it right. It was important that both countries should realise thoroughly the limitations of acceptance. Unless Ireland had thereal control of its purely domestic affairs, it was idle to proceed. On

the other hand, Britain ’ ’ cannot' accept separation. Men who thought Britain could be compelled by force to ■'concede anything unjust to its own people, on fatal do its. own life and security, could not. have read the story of the last five years. This was not a time when anyone could' suspect Britain of conceding from weakness. Would anyone taunt the hind that destroyed the greatest military empire of .the world, largely by its own power, that it was simply quailing before a band of wretched, assassins. The world would know Britain was entering upon the schema prompted by that deep sense of justice,; which had sustained the land throughout those last years of sacrifice.

DANGER OF SINN FEIN. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. LONDON' Dec. 22. Details pf the Homo Rule Bill show that it closely approximates the scheme tho London Times recently propounded. In the House of Commons Sir Edward Carson said that ho was still convinced that a united Parliament was best for Ireland, tho United Kingdom, and tho Empire. If tho Sinn Fein party captured the Irish .Par: Hnment it would annex Ulster and proclaim c Republic. .fTho London Times’ scheme was for local Parliaments with a central authority on llio linos of tho Australian Commonwealth.] LORD FRENCH IN DUBLIN. . By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright. Australian-NeW Zealand Cable Association LONDON, Dec.‘2o. Lord French drove through Dublin streets in an open carriage, an escort accompanying him.