THE IRISH QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13511, 18 June 1917, Page 5

THE IRISH QUESTION

AMNESTY FOR REBELS.

A GREAT EXPERIMENT. RECONCILIATION HOPED FOR. (Australian and N.Z. Gable Assi.) Received June 17, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, June 16. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar 'Law said the Government, after long -and careful consideration, had decided to grant an amnesty to all the Irish rebels. The governing consideration was the approaching Convention, at which it was hoped Irishmen would ■settle the difficult problem of the future administration of their country. This great experiment marked a new ■fci in the relation? of Ireland with Be. United Kingdom and the Em. and it was very desirable that the 'Convention should assemble in an atmosphere of goodwill. The Governiment had therefore decided to remove .one cause of serious misunderstanding .and in doing so was inspired with the sanguine hope that the action would be welcomed in the .spirit in which it is made, and that it would constitute a good augury for the much to be desired 1 reconciliation. Mr J. Devlin, Nationalist member if or Belfast W., expressed gratitude, but said the Government would have been better advised if it had come to the decision earlier. The Government would have even avoided much irrita»Sir S. M. SamueL said the Government had taken a "wise decision, which would be regarded as an earnest of the Government's desire to end a long period of quarrelling between the two peoples. Col. C. E. Wardle said he iioped the past would be forgotten. IRISHMEN RELEASED. JUeived June 18, $.lO a.m. LONDON, June 17. Twenty-nine Irishmen were released from Lewo* gaol, and cheering crowds witnessed their departure for Ireland.