HISTORIC SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH

Nelson Evening Mail, 26 May 1916, Page 5

HISTORIC SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH

UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOB SETTLEMENT. WHAT COULD AND SHOULD BE iDONE. (Roc Mav 26, 12.50 p.m.) " LONDON, May 25. The House of Commons was crowded and listened to the Irish. statement with intensest interest. Mr Asquith said, that if a- statement was made on the Consolidated Funds Hill a general debate would be impossible. He asked the indulgence of the House to say a few. words before the Orders- of the Day. s Mr O'Brien asked 1 whether {-here would be an opportunity for debate. The Speaker: Not on that part of thee statement relating to civil government. Several members wished to move an adjournment. Mr Asquith: The Government does not desire to burke discussion. On the contrary it is most anxious that it should occur, but he was not certain that a. discussion could be fruitful until the inquiry proceeding- was finished. In the meantime the Government's primary duty was to restore order find prevent a recurrence of disturbances. He rejoiced at the overwhelming evidence that the great bulk of Irish opinion of all creeds and sporties had no sympathy with the recent ill-advised undertaking". Mr Asquith, proceeding-, said that martial law was continued as a, precautionary measure. He hoped, it would be abolished speedily and completely. The composition of the Irish Executive must for the time-being be .provisional. He feared that a general debate now would tend to create an atmosphere mi-tavom-able to the aopeal which his colleagues and himself unitedly felt it their duty to make without delay. His visit was intended to get a first-hand view of the whole situation. He saw with his own eyes the heart-rending desolation which the unhappy aud misguided men wrought over a, large area of Dublin. He visited and' talked with the utmost freedom with many arrested men, and he put himself in touoli wit-h representatives of all shades of Irisli opinion with the single desire to get at the truth.

Tn the! House of -Commons Mr Asquith said there were two main and dominant impressions in his mind. They were that the breakdown of the existing machinery and the strene+h, depth." and universality of the foeling in Ireland afforded now a unique opportunity for the settlement of outstanding problems and a joint combined effort' should be made with a view to obtaining an agreement respecting the future. The°Government considered the moment peculiarly opportune. One great reason for this opinion was that Irish of all creeds and classes responded with ala-r-ritv to tho call. The trenches and t>he battlefields would be for ever consecrated with tho memory''of Ireland equally with Britain. No'one could after the war, the prospect of Irishmen arranged against one another in the most tragic and debasing of all combats, an internecine domestic struggle. (Cheer?). It would he a confession of the bankruptcy of statesmanship and patriotism. (Cheers). The Home Rule Act was on the Statute Book, and no one ever contemplated its coercive application, l>ut what was now of paramount importance in the Imperial emergency was, if possible, that an agreement which was thought vain before the war, should Be reached between the representatives of the different interests of Ireland. The whole Government was anxious to do everything to facilitate this happy result. Mr Lloyd George had undertaken to devote lumself to that end. (Cheers). There had already been communication between authorised leaders. In his future negotiations, Mr LloydJ George would cany with him the ardent hope of all members and something- else, na'mely, the belief that such a result corild and ought to be attained. (Cheers.) I Mr Asquith ap]iealed' to the House to cbstain from, immediate discussion of the ' situation, and by using language "calculated to increase the serious but not i insurmountable difficulties lying in the I wa'v of a cr-eat and- lastinc settlement. (Cheers). "' " _ " j . Mr Redmond said Mr Asquith "s solemn appeal was the test "of a genuine desire for settlement. He would therefore respond thereto. He hoped Mr Lloyd George's task succeeded. B? would do nothing to thwart it. . Mr O'Brien, said he was also willing to accent Mr Asquith's advice. Sir Edward Carson agreed to forego the debate. The House, thereupon emptied. Members crowded in the lobby to discuss the situation. The greatest surprise was the announcement of Mr Lloyd' George's mission to arrange a settlement. His munitions department wrts now working smoothly, allowing him to spare the time.