IRISH HOME RULE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 91, 17 April 1912, Page 5

IRISH HOME RULE.

GREAT SPEECH IN THE HOUSE BY MR BALFOUR. CABIN FT’S DEXTERITY. (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Press Association A London, April 16. In the House of Commons, replying to a question, Mr Asquith said that the Irish legislature, after a triclinium, might alter the qualification of electors and the distribution without altering the numbers of members. Mr Balfour, speaking to a crowded House, sarcastically paid a tribute to the dexterity of the Government in not consulting the electors. He ridiculed the talk of the supremacy of the Imperial Parliament as a safeguard, and objected to Ireland being regarded as a mere hanger-on of a rich country or as a poor relation. They should view the United Kingdom as a whole, and not .search too closely whether any part should contribute more than it took from the exchequer. Ho asked whether the constabulary for which Britain pays should lie under British or Irish control. If the former, how could the Irish executive he responsible for law and order? The Prime Minister’s initial federal experiment was lopsided and utterly unworthy of British statesmanship. Ho did not believe that the English and Scottish members support an insane federal system divided by Customs barriers, If Ireland could use the Customs against foreigners the Government would bo involved in appalling difficulties, arising from a reversal of a true policy of national development. Great social communities, he felt, must maintain their position by integration, not by disintegration. In the House of Commons three financial experts who inquired into Anglo-Irish finance found it so utterly unsound that they recommended complete fiscal autonomy and an annual subvention of £900,000. The Government was unable to accept the suggestion; therefore the whole Irish revenue will continue to be paid into the Imperial exchequer. While the deficit lasted the .total transferred annually from the exchequer would be about six millions. This was not a grant, but was derived from Irish

trades. The cost of the reserved services would be about five millions. The money loss thereon at the outset would he two millions. This deficit would disappear in a decade if the present prosperity was maintained. There should be a 10 per cent, variation in Customs, based upon France’s and Germany’s local government system. Any increase over 10 per cent, would go to the English exchequer. The Irish executive controlling excise controlled, as a consequence, flip Customs on beer and spirits, and also had power to increase the income and death duties and borrow for national development. Lord Hugh Cecil declared that if Ireland were treated as a separate nationality she could not receive financial aid without dishonour. She would lie reduced from the status of a wife to that of a mistress. He believed that the Protestants .were ready to take a share in public life. The trouble was due to Ulster Protestants’ pretensions to ascendency. South Africa realised her place in the Empire by rejecting home rule and adopting a closer union. Mr Asquith’s lopsided federalism was only a fairweather constitution. If Nationalists really believed that Ireland was a nation they ought not to be content with such a makeshift. He desired to see the Jrish as free as England and Scotland to co-operate with the Empire work. Ho declared that she had such freedom under the present system. Mr Samuel pointed out that Mr Balfour in 1906 described the grant of self-government to South Africa as a reckless! scheme. He denied that granting home rule had led to separatist tendencies. Autonomy was essential to Imperial unity. After accustoming Ireland to expenditure on an English scale it was indefensible to ask her to find the whole expenditure. The new Parliament, if not assisted, would be faced in the first year with a deficit exceeding one-fifth of the whole revenue. At the same time it would 1m unjust to permanently saddle the British taxpayer. He was convinced that when Ireland was prosperous she would share the burden of empire. If the Irish Govern merit was able to economise it could remit any taxes it liked. It was impossible to give her unfettered control of the Customs as this word I be : 'consistent with the Government’* general policy. (Received 17, 9.5 a.m.) London, April 16. Mr Simcox, Lord Mayor of Cork, has resigned owing to criticisms of •his acceptance of the invitation to the National Convention, contrary to the All for Ireland League’s resolution. The corporation of Belfast “received” Mr Devlin’s invitation to send delegates to the convention. The Lord Mayor declined to receive a motion on the subject. The Liberal Unionist Association of Ulster, in a manifesto, says the Bill confirms Ulster’s stern resolve against being relegated in any circumstances to control by an Irish Parliament, which has unrestricted powers under the Bill.