IRISH QUESTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, 18 May 1917, Page 5

IRISH QUESTIONS

STATEMENT -BY MR LLOYD GEORGE.

(Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) and Renter.) (Official:) ■'...■ (Rec. May 18, 9.5 a.m.) , LONDON, May 17. Mr (Lloyd. George has written to Mr•Hedmond emphasising that any settle.- • ,men't'they could propose in waf time, must be one substantially accepted by both sides. He was unable to negotiate . with Irish representatives owing* to the decision of the Nationalists not to negotiate with the Government. The latter; seek to concede the largest possible; measure of Home Rule securable;. by agreement at this moment; Parliament ■id -effect a (final settlement after the war of the questions most in dispute. He was prepared to introduce a iBill; for Home Rule for Ireland, excluding six.;.' counties of Ulster, such exclusion to be ~ subject *'to re-consideration' by Pai'lia^/. , ment at the endi of five years, unless. ; : terminated meantime by the proposed Council of Ireland. - , : ... The Bill proposes that the latter council will consist of all members,/returned to 'Westminster from the exclud-. Ed area and a : Relegation of equal numbers from the Irish Parliament., The council will be empowered by majority. votes of each delegation to pass a;private Bill and legislation, affecting 'any part of, Ireland, and recommend -;the Crown to extend it to the excluded-area. Any act of the Irish Parliament ; to agree to the inclusion of the whole of Ireland under the Home. Rule Act will be subject to the assent of the, majority, of the voters in the excluded area. lb , may make recommendations upon the Irish question, including amendment of the Home Rule Act'. ". , The-President of the Council be elected by agreement between the delegations .or in default of agreement, by the Crown. ,','-' •i '■ ■ The Government consider tho financial - proposals'of the Home Rule Act unsatisfactory, and ought to be reconsidered. _ A number of important objects, sufcn as development of industries, housing in towns and education cannot be adequately dealt with under that Act, without unduly burdening the Irish taxpayer. A conference similar to the Speakers on Electoral. Reform would follow_ the sec-,... orid rWing of the proposed Bill, which is as far as the Government can pos-' sibly go in the crisis of the great war. He' was-prepared to introduce such a measure if assured that something' like a second reading would be acceptable to both Irish parties. As an alternative, and in the last resort, he would prbpose a convention of Irishmen of all parties. for : the purpose of producing a scheme fof self-government on the constitution on t 'which the Union of South Africa was, -Despite the most formidable difficulties and obstacles by a convention representing all interested parties in the country, the Government believes that a similar expedient in Ireland will be. possible and be effectual. _ Mr Llovd George invites views or. this letter to" enable the Government ;to consider the matter before Monday. , HOW THE PROPOSALS WERE . RECEIVED. . (Australian and N.z/Cable. Association.) (Rec. May 18, 2.5 p.m.) _ LONDON, May. 17., The Government's proposals have been , received with mixed felings in Dublin. While the - Nationalists concede •that, some'advance has been made, they tear they are traps which will vitiate _ the proposals. The Sinn Femers and those influenced by the recent statement, of. the Catholic and Protestant Bishops repudiate partition in any form. Many.southern Unionists are suspicious, and regard tho proposals as unworkable, while Ul- \ ster is likely to bo prejudiced owing to • .- the absence of definite financial propos--3 Archbishop Crozior, Bishops . Day, Peacock, Moore, and Darcy, have a statement advocating the postponement of the question until the Imperial Constitution is reorganised after the war. A hasty conclusion will only increase the confusion. . • The Freeman's Journal predicts prompt' rejection, but the Convention suggestion implying the admission of the acceptance' of Home Rule on the fines the Irishmen themselves determine, ie worthy of consideration.