NEW EFFORT FOR IRELAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16497, 24 March 1917, Page 7

NEW EFFORT FOR IRELAND.

DESIRE FOR SETTLEMENT. ] GOVERNMENT ACTION. ( MR. ASQUITH TO CO-OPERATE, j l A. and N.Z. Cable. LONDON. March 22. r The announcement has been made in the c House of Commons by Mr. Bonar Law 1 that the Government had decided to make ' another attempt to solve the Irish ques- * tion. Mr. Asquith had promised to co- ( operate with the Government. ; In the course of the second reading ' debate on the Consolidated Fund Bill, ' Mr. Bonar Law gave an opportunity ' for a debate on the Irish question. " ( I Sir J. H. Dalziel, Liberal member for ' Kirkcaldy, in moving that it was of ' supreme importance for the Government ' to effect a settlement, said a settlement ( was necessary in the interests of national 1 unity, and to put Britain right with her ' allies. Inaction strengthened the reaction- ; aries in Ireland. All parties must make great sacrifices, otherwise a solution was '. > impossible. The suggestion to have Do- : minion representatives sitting upon a commission of settlement deserved a trial. Mr. J. W. Hills, Conservative member for Durham, in seconding the motion, said the Irish difference was a source of weak- , ness in the war, and would paralyse Bri- . tain after the war. Dominions' Attitude. ; (Received 9.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 22. Mr. 11. MacNeil, Conservative member . for St. Augustine's, said the Dominions were already deeply committed to Home Rule by the resolutions of their Parliaments. They could not approach the problem impartially. Mr. John Dillon's suggestion that Ulster had had negotiations with German agents had no foundation in fact. It was a most serious , obstacle to settlement, and would only . create discontent and distrust. He was convinced the oversea representatives would not touch the Irish question with a barge pole. Ulster was not an obstacle to settlement. Already it had made ( large concessions, while the Nationalists had made none. . Mr. Bonar Law ?jaid he welcomed the tone of the debate. He repudiated the , idea that he desired a general election. ' There was nothing he detested more. He , was not thinking of party advantage, or ' of the chance of winning an ehltion, but realised it was the whole nation's desire that we should live in peace and friend- ' ship with the people in the south and tho I west of Ireland, if that was possible. No one had a right to impose Home Rule on Ulster unless Ulster would submit. J Sacrifices Necessary. Continuing, Mr. Bonar Law said that , ' if the Nationalists openly avowed that j I they were prepared to act in the same spirit as the British parties, then he believed it would be easier to make an arrangement with Ulster. The present position was a blemish on our statesmanship, but it was not all the fault oJ I statesmen. The Government was pre- . pared to grant self-government to Ireland t to-'morrow where' it was distinctly dea manded. The Government wanted a » settlement, but sacrifices were necessary t on all sides in order to achieve it. The ' Irish question acted as a handicap 'on the 0 carrying on of the war. 6 "If wo make another attempt and fail, II the position will be worse," Mr. Bonar 8 Law added. "That makes us hesitate. The Government has decided, on its own _ responsibility, in some way or other to make another attempt at settlement. r, {Loud cheers.) The House knows the y difficulty. I hope it will not press for a fuller statement now, but will jive the >• Government a little time for oonsidera--0 .tion. We think it worth while to make * the attemnt, whether it succeeds or fails. 11 Mr. Asquith: I think I may express, ; 1 on behalf of the whole House, satisfaction i at the announcement. 'Personally, I think is better to make an attempt and fail than not to. make it at all. The Government will realise it has the sympathy and the active co-operation of all of us. SIR JOSEPH WARD'S VIEW. s -■ "A DANGEROUS SORE." 6 (Received 7.35 p.m.) LONDON. March 22. s Speaking at the National Liberal Club, i Sir Joseph Ward referred to the Irish s question. He quoted Mr. Bonar Law's s statement in the House of Commons on 8 March 15, that if a new method could be n found of healing this old sore it would be 0 one of the best things for the Empire. i- Sir Joseph Ward dechrxl that in the ine terests, not of the Empire alone, but of - the world s s civilisation, the question 3 called for prompt settlement. It was a I- running and dangerous sore at the heart h of the Empire, and extended to countries a far beyond. It should be healed without *■ delay. He was convinced that an effec'l tive' and lasting settlement could be 6 reached. No effort should be spared to '* bring the parties together, and to estab--0 lish an Irish Parliament with full local '■ autonomy. Such a course was essential, :1 and would move closely unify the Empire ■1 and help to win the war.