SIR EDWARD CARSON'S APPEAL.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14147, 26 July 1916, Page 6

SIR EDWARD CARSON'S APPEAL.

REDMONDITES TAUNTED BY ME , O'BRIEN.

SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

Received July 25, 9.30 p.m.) London, July 25

Sir Edward Carson said he felt that the coercion of Ulster, was impossible. When Ulstermen and Dublin Fusiliers had died in the trenches side by side he would have been a faithless citizen and a faithless s6n of- the Empire if ho had refused to enter into the negotiations.

Sir. Edward Carson continued: I am quite sure that by the end of the war we shall liave had enough of fighting, and. will have to consider the great questions of the. reconstruction of the whole Empire and the whole basis of Society. There will be financial difficulties so grave that I don't like to contemplate them, and it* would enormously increase our difficulties if the old Irish quarrels were resumed.

Mr W. O'Brien taunted the' Redmondites with running away from the substance of their agreement owing to Irish pressure. Ireland would never forget that the Redmoridites had agreed to separate the six richest and most historic counties and one-third of the whole population. If the plot had sue-, ceeded' it would have been the death sentence on the Constitutional movement in Ireland. ■

Mr Asquith acknowledged the loyal and patriotic attitude of the Nationalists during the war.

He then addressed the Redmondites directly as follows: You have the opportunity to consent to all the members of the coalition bringing Home Rule into immediate operation. Are you going to throw away the opportunity? That is the question. The war has united all parties, and the common desire to concentrate all their energies upon the success of our arms has made Irishmen of all shades of opinion look with nausea and disgust upon the possible recurrence of internecine strife< Contrary to all their wishes and all their prepossessions, my Unionist colleagues have agreed that Home Rule shall come into immediate operation, and it is part of the agreement that the six counties shall be excluded. I consider the exclusion of the six counties the greatest give and take arrangement ever made in our political his-, tory.

- Mr Asquith said he would ask the House, and, if necessary, the country, whether the Government's proposals ■ vi ere not fair. As an ardent Home Ruler he begged the Nationalists not to break off the negotiations. On behalf of the Government he repeated Sir Edward Carson's appeal that they should not allow the present opportunity to slip away. Mr Redmond's motion was negatived.