IRELAND A DOMINION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17594, 6 October 1920, Page 7

IRELAND A DOMINION.

ME. ASQUITH'S, SOLUTION. GRANT OF FULL, AUTONOMY.

% - * * -. - ■. , NOT . AFRAID OF REPUBLIC. By Telegraph—; Association.—Copyright. • '„ .■■-,. , (Received 10.30 p.m.) .'..:-.. ... '■'■-* ) Times. ~ ,■ <" . •'.-■:,. i-~ , ;LONIX>N, Oct. -4. ' -•.. In' ."abetter, to the Times on the Irish i situation/Mr. H. H. Asquith writes:— ""last nine months' experience is per- ' haps the most .deplorable and scandalous chapter in the annals of -Irish "Government, t but I cannot contemplate,; even as a. policy of despair* Viscount'rGrey's suggestion t for the ,final abandonment of a trust Tfhich history has imposed' on us." Mr. Asaujttt reiterates his "opinion that the bestowal ..of the .status of an autonomous -Dominion .in the fullest, and widest sense is the only solution of J the ; Irish problems. ;It would place Ireland -on ; a level footing with ■ the 'other- Dominions without' imposing limitations and fetters regarding naval and 4 mihtary" forces. No grant \ 0f,., autonomy would. be' complete which. failed to^.include.the right to raise and maintain adequate* military forces for local defence. There must also" be included fiscal independence. .'-''- "To those« disposed to/.think such a policy humiliating and' hazardous,'' states Mr. Asquith', "I put the question, what is your alternative? ~®an anything be more humiliating or pregnant of incalculable peril than the present conditions. The only logical sequence is to undertake the task of reconquering* Ireland, which the ;; wills v and consciences of the English people will never . sanction. lam not \ alarmed aS the spectre of, an Irish .Republic. Men in .the long run will not fight for phrases but for realities.