BRITAIN'S UNITED FRONT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15717, 18 September 1914, Page 6

BRITAIN'S UNITED FRONT.

NO DOMESTIC DIFFERENCES

UNIONISTS AND HOME RULE.

(Received September 17, 10.40 p.m.) London, September 17.

Interviewed on the Home Kule position, Mr. F. E. Smith, M.P., said:—" Although Unionists justly resented the Government's action, all parties are showing a firm determination to make every endeavour to defeat Britain's common enemy. Until that is accomplished all domestic differences will be laid aside. German diplomacy will doubtless detect evidence of a divided nation in Tuesday's speeches, It has shown remarkable aptitude in mistaking our temper and purpose, but if the German authorities would rightly understand what happened in the House of Commons they should read the declarations of Mr. Bonar Law and Sir Edward Carson in regard to the debate, which showed that our country comes first.

Mr. Smith added that such utterances represented the deep conviction of Unionists that a united front must persist as long as there was peril to Britain on land or sea.

IRISH LEADER'S MANIFESTO

WAR THAT MAY BRING UNION.

(Received September 18, 12.50 a.m.)

London, September 17. Mr. Redmond, in a manifesto to the Irish people, says he is confident that Ireland will willingly share the burdens of sacrifices of a just war that has been undertaken in the defence of the sacred rights and liberties of nations with whom they were much akin. He adds that even when no ties of sympathy bound Britain to Ireland the latter gave her quota, and more, to the firing-line.

He suggests that the Irish recruits should be formed into an Irish brigade, officered as far as possible by Irishmen, enabling Ireland to gain national credit for their deeds, and feel, like other communities of the Empire, that she contributed an army bearing her name in this historic struggle. Simultaneously with the formation of this brigade for service abroad, our volunteers must be put in a state of efficiency for their country's defence. Thus, at the end of the war, Ireland would possess an army of which she could be proud. Concluding, he appeals to his countrymen of different creeds and political opinions to accept the friendship we so consistently offered them, and allow the great war to swallow up all the smaller issues. As our soldiers are going to shed their blood and die by each other's side for the same high purpose, may their union on the field lead to a union h their home, and their blood be the seal that will bring all Ireland together in one nation."