HOME RULE AND CONSCRIPTION DEAD.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume V, Issue 1360, 22 June 1918, Page 9

HOME RULE AND CONSCRIPTION DEAD.

RESULT OF THE RECENT EVENTS IN IRELAND, (A. & N.Z.) (Pec. June 22, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, June 21. In a debate in the House of Lords on the Irish question, Lord Wimhorne said, that lie knew the extreme section of the Sinn Fein was willing to avail itself of German assistance. Germany also had agents in Ireland, supplementing the antiBritish activities with money. Submarines were skulking around the coast, seeking to land arms, and there were rumours that the Germans wore attempting to land men. To this extent he believed there was a plot, hut the Irish Executive was not aware of any further plot until the British Government discovered it. Lord Wimhorne would like to know more about it. Lord Curzon said that; in view of the Sinn Fein conspiracy and the action of the Irish clergy, though the Government had not changed its front, they recognised the facts, and tried to adjust their policy to the circumstances. Lord Curzon defended voluntary recruiting. He admitted that the condition in Ireland was grave, hut the arrest of the Sinn Feiners had produced a feeling of relief, which the Nationalists shared. Lord Curzon's speech caused a sensation in the lobbies and made it clear that the Government had side-tracked Home Rule and conscription. Incidentally, Lord Curzon said that under the present circumstances of crime and_ lawlessness and agitation in Ireland, the preparation of the Home Rule Bill, which there was no chance of anyone accepting, would not be statesmanship, but folly. It would almost amount to a crime. The “Daily News” says that Lord Gurzon’s speech means that Home Rule is dead, and conscription is dead. The Irish question ought to be referred to the judgment of the Imperial statesmen now in London. ✓