IRISH HOME RULE

New Zealand Tablet, 23 July 1914, Page 31

IRISH HOME RULE

THE KING COMMANDS A CONFERENCE. London, July 20. The King has invited the Government, the Opposition, the Nationalists, and the Irish Unionists to a conference at Buckingham Palace to-morrow. Each party will appoint two representatives. Mr. Asquith and Mr. Lloyd George, Lord Lausdowne and Mr. Bonar Law, Air. J. E. Redmond and Air. John Dillon, Sir E. Carson and Captain Craig have been selected to represent the several parties at the conference. The invitation was arranged on the Prime Minister’s advice, although the suggestion probably originated from his Majesty himself. It explains the delay in the King’s departure for Portsmouth, and is the outcome of fever-, ish activity in Ministerial circles for the last few.days. Newspapers describe the conference as effecting a. complete change in the immediate situation. The Opposition were not consulted beforehand. The Unionist and Ulster leaders instantly responded to the Royal summons, and declared their resolve to do their utmost to make the conference a success. Mr. John Dillon was chosen as Air. Redmond’s companion because he represents more especially the older generation of Home Rulers. Air, Redmond said: ‘ Aly colleagues and myself take no responsibility for calling this convention, and I do not think 1 am called upon to express an opinion whether the result will be useful or the contrary. The invitation was accepted by us as a Royal command.’ LABOR A NTA GONIS M. The Labor Party held a meeting in the House of Commons and carried a resolution protesting against the King summoning a conference. They subsequently requested Mr. Asquith to forward the resolution to the King. "WILL NOT YIELD AN INCH. Air. Redmond presided over a meeting of the Nationalist Party in the House of Commons to protest against any further concessions. The meeting' gave Messrs. Redmond and Dillon plenary powers at the Peace Conference. The Nationalists arc firmly resolved not to yield an acre or a man of Tyrone or Fermanagh. Mr. Devlin is actively engaged in the organisation of the Nationalist Volunteers. MR. DEVLIN’S THREAT. Leading Nationalists at Belfast approve of the leaders’ repudiation of responsibility for the conference. Air. Devlin intimates that he declared if the Government betrays them it has itself to blame. The most desperate acts of the Fenians will be child’s play lo what would happen throughout Ireland. ‘‘l.P.’s’ OPINION. Mr. T. P. OConnor, M’.P., writing in Reynold*’ ypaper, says; —-‘We arc in the mood of travellers after a long voyage. The Home Rule ship has arrived in harbor, and will soon be berthed. Restlessness and acute anxiety prevail. We must reject Sir Edward Carson’s demand for all Ulster, even at the risk of facing Carson’s rifles.’