HOME RULE.

Colonist, Volume LVII, Issue 14147, 26 July 1916, Page 5

HOME RULE.

BREAKDOWN OF THE PROPOSALS

GOVERNMENT BILL DROPPED

(Reuters Telegrams.)

London, July 24

In the- House of Commons, Mi" Asquith made an announcement concerning the Irish Bill in reply to J»)r Redmond's inquiry if the Govpnunrat intended to depart from the terms of the agreement on Mr Lloyd George's prow posals or insert proposals at variance with the agreement without- consulting the Nationalists.

Mr Asquith pointed out that the agreement was subject to the approval of and revision, by Cabinet. In this connection two questions emerged. Firstly, there was the form of Ulster's exclusion. All parties agreed that inclusion should not bo automatic, anf"" the Government could not do less tha\ make that sure. Secondly, after ful examination the Government felt that they could not themselves agree, or expect the House to agree, that the full number of 'Irish members should be retained in the House of Commons after" an election, eseept when consider* ation of a Home Rulo or an amending Bill was concerned.

Mi* Asquith finally announced that he did not to introduce the Irish Bill, as there did not appear to be a prospect of a substantial agreement amongst all parties.

Mr Redmond thereupon moved the adjournment to call attention to the rapidly-growing unrest in -Ireland, and to- the fact that the Government did not proposed to carry out in their entirety the terms submitted for a temporary settlement.