MR. REDMOND'S MOTION.

Colonist, Volume LX, Issue 14545, 25 October 1917, Page 5

MR. REDMOND'S MOTION.

■ INDICTMENT OP EXECUTIVE'S j POLICY. I MR DUKE'S DEFENCE. I SINN FEINERS PREPARING TO I REVOLT. GERMAN ASSISTANCE. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.)

(Received Oct. 24, 7.40 p.m.) London, Oct. 24. ; In the House of Commons, Mr Redmond moved a resolution deploring tbg Irifjh Executive's policy, and also tho ; Irish - military policy, especially in view 'of the necessity for creating an" atmes* pbere favourable to the Convention. Mr Redmond said the"lrish question i was extremely grave, and only the sihv ■cess of tho Convention would prevent ; a period of chaos and anarchy unprece-» dented for a century. Tho existing pol-< icy was the greatest danger to the C<mvention. It was widely believed m Ireland that certain people in England and' Ireland would glady see tho Convention destroyed, hoping that Ireland** last hope of self-government wouk* perish in the resultant anarchy and., perhaps, bloodshed. He acquitted tho Irish Unionists of responsibility for this ; condition of affairs'. The Convention proceedings had been without any bit-

t<-Tnass, but the discussions had now ■reached a critical stags. Many of th> onlhcrities' acts were provocative and irritating, causing the growth of Sinn F'*h:i,sm. He moved the motion in or* d^r to urge Mr Duke to exercise fcio controlling powers. Mr Duka, Chief Secretary for ; Irelaud, replied that, every act and policy was justified. Otherwise order would : not Tut-To been maintained! The Government's one desire was to create sm atmosphere of goodwill. He posited to Ireland's present prosperity and practical immunity from the misery afflicting the rest of,the world. Yet the' Empire's avowed enemies enrolled-:'200,606 yermg Irishmen in order to create a reftenion. Parliament, with •unprecedented magnanimity, considered that until Ireland received the promised selfgovernment it had not the right to force conscription upon it. The Sin». Fciners declined to participate in the. Convention, but there had been a hurricane- fire of rebel oratory throughout the country. There had also been, steady organisation in every parish of a new rebel force, who had been tokl: that there was a considerable quantity of arms ready and more when the fatal day comes. Whence came these ai-ms? The helping hand winch brought about the rebellion in 1916 was Germany's. "When it became necessary in February to deport persons engaged in conspiring it' was because Germany's hand wa>; again held out, and tho Government

CABLE i\EW&

[Press Association .—-CopviughtiJ.

■knew it. The Governnient could-not'ig-nore the organisation of tins volunteer force or its-declared purpose. The Sinn Fein leaders aimed to defeat the Contention. Mr Asquith said he hoped nothing would be done io defeat tho Convention. •