IRISH AFFAIRS

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 22

IRISH AFFAIRS

MR LLOYD GEORGE'S PROPOSALS ACCEPTED. LONDON., June 21. Mr Bonar Law presided at a conference of Unionist members of the Cabinet to discuss the situation regarding Ireland.. Sir E. Carson also attended the conference. June 24. The Ulster Nationalist Conference sat for six hours and voted county by county. It is understood that Mr Redmond made a powerful appeal, and declared that if the conference refused the proposals he would not again appear on the public platform as a leader of an Irish party. This ultimatum made a deep impression. Armagh voted against the proposals, and Antrim for them. Thereafter the voting for acceptance steadily increased. It is officially announced that the conference, by 475 votes to 265, adopted Mr Lloyd George's proposals. June 26. Mr Lloyd George has telegraphed to Mr Devlin congratulating him on the results of the Nationalist Ulster Convention. Apparently Mr Lloyd George considers that the vote of the convention has decided the fate of the negotiations. PEERS PROTEST. LONDON, June 24.

Lord Balfour of Burleigh, Lord Cromer, Lord Halshury, Lord Midleton, and Lord Salisbury, in a joint letter to the press, state that the grave position in Ireland is rendered more critical by the negotiations now in progress. The go-as-youqJease system in the Irish Government had injured credit and law, and there was even good reason to believe that the country being open to German influence, sedition was more rampant than it had been for 50 years. They declare that the Government should not give up its machinery in the middle of a vital struggle. They express the belief that if an election is held in Ireland Mr Redmond could not maintain his following or govern in the face of the Sinn Fein and other influences. The proposals are fraught with infinite danger to the Empire and the Allies. THE PRIESTHOOD. LONDON, June 22. The Times correspondent at Dublin says that Cardinal Logue defends the priesthood against the accusations in connection with the rebellion. He did not believe that as a general body they sympathised with Sinn Feinism. He accused the authorities of muddling. Cardinal Logue, Archbishop of Armagh; the Right Rev. C. Machugh, Bichon of Deny j the Right Rev. J. Macrory, Bishop of Down and Connor ; the Right Rev. P. M'Kenna, Bishop of Clcgher; and Bishop Mulhean have pronounced against Mr Lloyd George's proposals. Cardinal Lcguo considers that it would be infinitely better to remain for another 50 years under English rule than to accept the proposals. Mr Devlin, in a powerful manifesto, urges the acceptance of such a God-given chance. He believes that the counties standing out will inevitably be drawn under Home Bale by force of circumstances. The Irish Unionist Alliance at Dublin has made a resolution against the proposals, among other things considering them to be a concession owing to the recent rebellion. RUMOURED ABOLITION OF VICEROYALTY. LONDON, June 20. It is rumoured that the Vice-royalty of Ireland is to lie abolished, as it is only a useless expense. Royal visits to Ireland are to be more frequent hereafter. June 22. In the Hours of Commons, Mr Asquith announced that Lord Wimborne's resignation of the Lord-Lieutenancy of Ireland had been accepted. RECENT DUBLIN DISTURBANCES. LONDON, June 20. Four men and three women, participants in the Dublin demonstration-, were lined for assaulting the police. Rebel songs were found in the accused's possession. PREPARATIONS FOR THE TRIAL. LONDON, June 26. Sir Roger Casement's trial will begin in the Lord Chief Justice's Court to-day. The prisoner will occupy the small, heavily-barred dock used in criminal appeal cases. A new jury box has been built in the court, and also a press box for 100 writers and reporters.