"The Time is Short!"

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIX, Issue 78, 23 July 1914, Page 5

"The Time is Short!"

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND. ■ K'/. THE PALACE CONFERENCE KING GEORGE’S ADDRESS. r "to THE BRINK OF FRATRICIDAL STRIFE.” [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.] London, July 22. The King, addressing the delegates, said: “It is with feelings of satisfaction and hopefulness that I receive you. ■ I thank you for responding to the summons. It is a matter for congratulation that the Speaker presides. ‘‘My intervention at this moment may bo regarded as a new departure, the exceptional circumstances justify my action. For months we have watched with deep misgivings the course of events in Ireland, where the trend has been surely but steadily towards an appeal to force, and today the cry. of civil war is on the lips of the most responsible and soberminded among the people. “We in the past have endeavored to act as a civilising example to the world, and to me it is unthinkable, as it must be to you, that we should b© brought to the brink of fratricidal strife upon issues apparently so capable of adjustment as those you are now asked to consider, if a spirit of generous compromise. “My apprehension in contemplating such a dire calamity is intensilied by my feelings of attachment to Ireland, and my sympathy with her people, whd have always welcomed me with warm-hearted affection. “Gentlemen, you represent, in one form or another, the vast majority of my subjects at home. It on also have a deep interest in my dominions oversea, who are scarcely less concerned" in the prompt and friendly settlement of the question. I regard you in this master as trustees for the honor and jfjeaco of all. Your responsibilities are indeed great. The time is short, but you will, I know, employ it to the fullest advantage, and be patient, earnest and conciliatory, with a'view to the magnitude of the interests at stake. “I pray that God in His infinite wisdom'will guide your deliberations,, so that the result’ will he joy, peace, and an honorable settlement.” V THE CRUX OF THE SITUATION. London, July 22. At the conference little progress was made (due apparently to the necessity for private consultation between the members of the separate

groups. The conference to-day is expected to discuss the area of exclusion, the crux of the situation.

Those in dose touch with the negotiations are not hopeful that the conference will be successful.

Opinion in Ireland regards its failure as .a foregone conclusion. It is reported that Mr Redmond

informed his followers that he would . resolutely decline to yield one inch of the- counties where Home Rule is in a, -majority. On the Unionist side there is an equally firm resolve to qlaim the whole of Tyrone and Fer-

managh. Mr Devlin, 1 lit an interview, said he did not expect any result from the conference. He did not care what the conference did or failed to do. The ultimate result of the conference would be the complete independence of Ireland. , LABOR AND “THE REBELS.” London, July 22. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, in an interview said: “The King’s extraordinary spepch makes one rub one’s eyes and wonder whether one is dreaming. The remark about civil war might grace the speech of a Unionist candidate for Parliament.” Mr Thomas, M.P. for Derby, comnumting on two rebels .being invited ami no Labor leaders to the Palace conference, said that had he used language similar tq Sir Edward Carson’s and Captain Craig’s, he would have been sent to the Old Bailey instead of to Buckingham Palace. If it were permissible for the wealthy classes to maintain such an attitude, he* would not hesitate to take his stand his own people when placed in a similar position of trial. Radical and Independent Liberals who prpmoted the Liberal meeting desired that the meeting should express anxiety about the sovereignity of Parliament and suspicion of the Palace conference, but the large attendance of moderates carried a resolution in favour of the Government completing its programme under the Parliament Act before the general election. r- There are reitewed lobby rumors Spat a general election is imminent. Both Liberals and Unionists share in the belief of an early dissolution. COMMENT ON THE SPEECH. * h —— London, July 22. The Chronicle says the King’s speech was ill-inspired. The cry of civil war is nothing more nor less than the Unionist party cry. The speech will only leave one impression on the Liberals, and that is as if the King had spoken of the Unionist Party as “we;” and of the Liberal Party as “they.” Obviously the personal

character of the speech was quite unlike an ordinary document dictated by Ministers, and makes the impression still m'ore painful. The least that can be inferred is that outside the official conversations, the King cannot be in the habit of talking familiarly with the Liberals, otherwise his illusion that the world of Tory ideas is the whole world not be so naive. The Daily News says: “It is impossible to conceal the mistrust aroused by the King’s intervention if we dissociate the episode from the Parliament Act. We do not know who the responsible, sober-minded people may he, but we know that the cry of “civil war” was raised by the Tory Press and platform.” A Parliamentary correspondent says that the Government must he identified with the utterances of the monarch.

The Irish Independent says that the King, however desirous of peace, has gone the worst way of achieving his object, and has exposed himself to the stispicion that he has been influenced almost exclusively -by the Tory view. He should have handled the situation more tactfully and judiciously. The Daily Mail describes the speech as deeply moving as a personal effort and of immense importance politically. As the King acted on the Ministers’ advice, it may he taken that he speaks with their concurrence, and is a proof that they now realise Ulster’s hostility and strength to resist. The Telegraph refers to the speech as a straightforward appeal, and pays a tribute to the King’s single-hearted ipatriotism. The Times says the speech will appeal to the nation at large, and will command respect. The King has realised the danger of the State drifting to disaster of the first magnitude, and the cry about defeating the Parliament Act is absurd. THE CONFERENCE ADJOURNS. NATIONALIST LEADERS CHEERED. (Received 8.30 a.m.) London, July 22. The conference has adjourned till to-morrow. When Messrs Redmond and Dillon were passing Wellington Barracks, a number of Irish Guards enthusiastically cheered them. “THE STRICTEST CONSTITUTIONAL PROCEDURE.” (ileceivod 9.50 a.m.) London, July 22. In' the House of Commons, Mr A. Ponsonby (Liberal) asked whether the King’s speech was drawn up and published on the advice of Ministers in accordance with custom and precedent.

Mr Asquith replied that the speech was sent to him in tho ordinary way the day before. He took the whole responsibility. Tho King had loft it to tho Conference to determine whether it should be published, and the conference unanimously favoured its publication. Lord Robert Cecil asked if the Conference was summoned upon the Cabinet’s advice. Mr Asquith replied that tho King had throughout followed the strictest constitutional procedure, and he had taken no stop except in constitution with and upon the advice of Ministers. “NEVER AGREE 70 EXCLUSION.” A meeting of Nationalists at Enniskillen carried a resolution that Fermanagh would novor agree to any sort of qxclusjou,