THE IRISH QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume 89, Issue 13750, 25 April 1918, Page 5

THE IRISH QUESTION

NO-CONSCR!PTION DAY. PASSES IN AN ORDERLY FASHION. PLEA FOR IRISH AGRICULTURISTS, NEEDED TO COPE WITH THE HARVEST. SIR EDWARD CARSON'S PROTEST. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 25, 9.40 a.m. LONDON, April 24. No-Conscription Day passed in an orderly fashion. The Roman Catholic population underwent many inconveniences in order to make an effective protest, including the closing of all the public houses, the non-delivery of bread, and the postponement of the Punchestown races, though the banks and Government ofiices were open. The Daily Chronicle raises the question of exempting all Irish agriculturists from conscription. It urges that 1,500,000 acres more are under cultivation than in 1916, and all labour is needed to reap the bumper food harvests.

Sir Edward Carson, in a long letter, to the Daily Telegraph, recapitulates the series of pledges by the present and -late Governments that Home Rule would not be enforced during the war period. He adds that Mr Lloyd George's excuse is that any .pledges may be scrapped, as the war has lasted longer than was expected, but on the faith of these assurances thousands of loyal Ulsterruon had joined the colours. Though Mr Bonar Law had pledged the Government not to legislate without a substantial agreement, to which Ulster would be an assenting party, Mr Lloyd George's proposed Bill will be based on a majority report from which the Uisterites unanimously dissented. Sir Edward Carson concludes: "I will not attempt to draw a moral."

ENGLISH CATHOLICS DISTRESSED. AT IRISH DISLOYALTY. BISHOP INVOKES THE DIVINE BLESSING. ON BRITISH ARMS. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) Received April 25, 9.50 a.m. LONDON, April 24. English Catholics are deeply distressed at the unpatriotic attitude of Irishmen. The Catholic Bishop of Southward Right Rev. P. E. Amigo, led a procession of 3000 carrying a relic of St. Goorge, while a crier invoked the divine blessing upon British arms. AN AUSTRALIAN PROTEST. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) ilcceived April 25, 11.40 a.m. MELBOURNE, April 25. Mr F. Brennan (Batman, Victoria) ppve notice to move in the Federal llojs.? r. motion that conscription apple d 10 Ireland by any authority external to tfie Irish nation would be subversive of the settled principles of democracy, and inconsistent with the just claims of the Allies, on behalf of other small nations.