A COMMON GROUND.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 49, 3 April 1914, Page 7

A COMMON GROUND.

CAN IT BE FOUND? ELECTION MIGHT MEAN RUIN. "BLOODSHED MUST FOLLOW." NATIONALISTS STILL DETERMINED. By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright, LONDON, April 2. There was a calmer tone in the House of Commons on the resumption of the Home Rule debate. Sir S. O. Buckmaster, K.C., said that however strong the opinions on both sides, there ought to be a common ground on which without abandonment of any pledge or principle, some reasonable arrangement could be made to enable the principle of the Bill to be carried out. The Irish movement no longer - was a conspiracy to be crushed out, but was a constitutional demand which believers in constitutional government could not disregard. Sir Mark Sykes, Unionist member for Hull, urged the exclusion of Ulster pending the completion of a Federal scheme. An election now would be won by either side to its ruin. If the Liberals won they would have-a mandate to coerce Ulster. If the Unionists won they would have a mandate to thwart the Irish hopes of thirty years which were on the eve of fruition, and sooner or later there would be bloodshed. Nationalists had gone to prison for their convictions. He appealed that if there was a chance of settlement they should not make use of a commanding political position and press good men too far. The Rev. C. Silvester Home, Liberal member for Ipswich, said he believed that Home Rule would strengthen the people's power and prove an important weapon against priestly power in Ireland.

"A RUDE SHOCK." LORD HALDANE'S ALTERED SPEECH. Replying to Lord Midleton, Lord Ilaldane admitted altering the "Hansard" report of his speeeti by adding the word "immediate," making him say: "No order will be issued for the immediate coercion of Ulster.'' He did so to prevent misunderstanding, •because newspapers had wrenched ,the sentence from the context and given his speech a different meaning. Lord Lansdowne, commenting on the explanation, said that the House understood from the speech that no orders for coercion were contemplated. It was a rude shock .to find this unqualified statement altered.' - TO FRAME SUGGESTIONS. MOTION FOR SELECT COMMITTEE Lord Hugh Cecil has given notice of motion to refer the Home Rule Bill to a Select Committee of thirty members to frame suggestions for the exclusion of the whole or part of Ulster. The "Standard," referring to the rule, that the sister States of the Empire should forbear to criticise each other's internal affairs, admits the Imperial aspect of Home Rule, yet apart from the definite Orange and Nationalist element in the dominions there is no reproduction of the strong party division which exists in the Motherland. When overseas politicians or newspapers declare for or against the policy it is unfair to say that they represent the view of Australia, Canada, or South Africa.

A CARGO OF ARMS. COASTGUARDS ON WATCH. The police and coastguards in Ulster have been ordered to watch the Fanny, which has left Copenhagen with a cargo of arms, supposed to be ~ destined for Ulster. A Customs officer states that he removed the Fanny's papers. An Englishman aboard attempted to bribe him to keep silent. The vessel sailed without papers. Hamburg advices allege that the rifles are destined for South America. PROSPECTS OF PEACE. PLANS BEING EXAMINED FOR ULSTER'S EXCLUSION. (Received April 3, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, April 2. The newspapers contain many suggestions for a pacific settlement, and it is understood that Ministerialists and Unionists are examining the same plan providing for the exclusion of Ulster pending a scheme of federation or devolution. Each side proposes to bring the plan before Sir Edward Grey and Mr Bonar Law respectively. Several political organisations are promoting meetings to protest against Army officers being, as it has been alleged, induced to refuse obedience to lawful ofders, on political grounds.

EAST FIFE SEAT, PREMIER MAY BE UNOPPOSED. Larkin, the Irish Labour leader, will not oppose Mr Asquith at East Fife. The .Opposition leaders recommend that there shall be no contest.. .(Received April 3, ,11 a.m.) The Unionists of East Fife have de-

cided not to contest the election with Mr "Asquith, unless circumstances change. AGREED OR FRIGHTENED? AVOIDING CIVIL WAR. (Received April 3, 11.30 a.m.) The Right Hon. A. J. Balfour, in the House of Commons said that the Government's action had paralysed Parliament and the country. The House was nominally discussing Home Rule, but the discussion really was on how to avoid civil war. It had been said that the tone of the debate was conciliatory, but that did 1 not mean that the House of Commons was agreed but it meant that the House'of Commons was frightened. AVERSION TO ELECTION." CUTTING UP THE KINGDOM. (Received April 3, 11.55 a.m.) Mr Balfour added that a referendum would sait the present crisis, but there was no explanation of the Government's aversion to a General Election unless they had a definite understanding with the Nationalists. He did not believe in the cutting up of the kingdom, but invited the Government to indicate the broad lines of their federal policy. It was essential that Ulster should not be placed under a Dublin Parliament. NATIONALISTS UNCOMPROMISING. ULSTER MUST STAY IN. Mr T. P. O'Connor declared that the Ministerialists and would not accept the referendum, and a General Election would not produce a settlement. The Nationalists would not consent to Ulster's permanent exclusion. He also repudiated the postponement of the Home Rule Bill, pending the completion of a federal scheme.