THE IRISH PROBLEM.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 30938, 23 July 1917, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

GOVERNMENT'S ATTITUDE TO*- ' WARDS CONVENTION. IRELAND'S SUPPORT THE ONLY i BASIS FOR LEGISLATION. (Per Cable—Press Association—Uopyriglit,) (Australian and N.2. Cable Association) LONDON, July 20. . 11l the House of Lords, Lord Dunravcn asked whether in view of the political situation in Ireland, the Government would undertake not to legisY.t? in accordance with the convention's proposals until the proposals liriil been submitted to the Irish people. He said the Government'!! altitude 'towards t,he cotiveiitioii was not epiite clear. lie' understood that the Government proposed to legislate in the event of, the convention reaching a substantial agreement; that' must mean a sii'isf atrial agreement outside the convention,

because the convention did not cousisr of delegates in the ordinary- acceptance of the term,

Lord Curzon. replying, said he could not say what the Government's altitude towards a referendum was. 'llis Government did not intend to taks advantage of the convention to force any scheme on Ireland in order to got. the Government? out of difficulties at" the cost of Irish discontent. The Government would sanction a scheme only if it might reasonably receive Ireland's support.. A section' of the opponents of the Nationalists have seized their offices in Dublin, and have used the National Volunteers' headquarters, Relays continually hold the premises, and defy the Nationalists to • expel them, They will endeavour to piyvcut them from holding a "National Volunteer Convention. Received duly 22, 5..j p.m. LONDON,'JuIy 21. New Defence of the Realm Regulations prohibit the publication of the'renort of the proceedings of the Irish Convention except as officially authorised.