IRISH HOME RULE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIII, Issue 3, 1 May 1912, Page 5

IRISH HOME RULE.

LORD SELEORNE SPEAKS ON THE QUESTION. 'THE DOMINIONS CRITICISED. London, April 30. ' Lord Selborne, in a speech at Aberdeen, referring to the argument that the weight of opinion of the selfgoverning dominions favoured Home Rule, said that the dominions did not appreciate the immense difference between the application of the principle to a colony 6000 miles from Great Britain and an island sixty miles distant. They also did not understand the complication cf the problem by Ulster's antagonism. Tho dominions' opinions were more pronounced on tariff reform than on Home Rule. Roughly speaking, there was no such tiling as free trade in the dominions. Great Britain could not consistently base her Home Rule policy on the opinion of the dominions, meanwhile barring the door in the face of their tariff reform views. Tho Times states that the Home Rule Bill will inevitably, after a period of increasing friction, breed illfeeling. To grant full colonial independence to Ireland would be as impossible ,as to transform the Union into a federation by stages. If the Bill attempts this middle course it will mean the shipwreck of the party or the nation accepting it. The Bill is certain to entail the erection of a Customs barrier, which hitherto it has bc.Mi the aim of all confederations to abolish.

Speaking at the National Liberal Club, Dr. Chappie, member for Sterlingshire, and an ex-New Zealander, suggested that after Home Rule had been granted all round, Ulster should be given the option by a referendum of belonging to the jurisdiction of the Scottish Parliament.