MR BRYCE'S RESIGNATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13369, 26 December 1906, Page 7

MR BRYCE'S RESIGNATION.

A DIFFERENCE WITH SIR A

MacDONNELL.

HOME RULE A DEVOLUTION.

By Telegraph.—Press Association,—Copyright.

(Received December 24, 10. p.m.) London, December 21. It is stated thai Mr. James Bryee has resigned the office of Chief Secretary for Ireland and accepted the Ambassadorship to Washington owing to a difference of opinion with the Permanent Under-Secretary for Ireland (Sir Antony MacPonnell) in regard to the devolution scheme of Irish reform.

Mr. Bryce wished to go further than Sir Antony MacDonnell would go in the direction of governing Ireland according to Irish ideas, and Sir Antony MacDonnell was unable to agree to Mr. Bryce's proposal to give the Irish Parliament control of the Royal Irish Constabulary.

Sir Antony McDonnell is creating a record in the removal of Ministers. After long and brilliant service in India lie was " borrowed" from the Government of India in 1902, to become Under-Secretory to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, on account of his special study of and definite views on the. Irish question. He was largely instrumental in the passing of Mr. Wyndliam's Land Purchase Act, which is doing so much for Ireland. When a controversy arose early in 1905 regarding his connection with Lord Dun raven's -devolution scheme for Ireland, Mr. Wyndhain resigned the post of Chief Secretary, but his subordinate remained in oflice. Mr. Bryee apparently also has had to give way to the stronger man. The .devolution scheme favoured t>y Sir Antony provides for the giving to Ireland of local self-government by progressive steps until finally Homo Rule is achieved. Mr. Bryce is a straight-out Homo Ruler.