The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-17
IRELAND PROMISED
NEEDED REFORMS
Taxation Agitation Touched
Upon in the Queens
Speech.
Members of Parliament Sounded
as to the Best Course
to Pursue.
It Is Certain, However, That Indus
trial Interests cf the Island
Will Be Developed.

LONDON, ENG, Jan. 16-It is under
stood that no part of the Queens speech,
which will be read at the opening of Par
lament was more carefully considered
than the part referring to the Irish taxa
ton agitation and to the form of reference
should it be decided to mention the mat
ter. On January the committee OF the
Cabinet consulted Earl Cadogan. Lord
Lieutenant of Ireland, and Gerald Bal
four, Chief Secretary for Ireland, on the
subject and since then com munications
have been constant between the Ministers.
Leading Unionist members of both houses
have been sounded as to the best course
for the Government to take.
The final draft of the speech will be de-
cided upon on Thursday, and will be
signed by the Queen in council at Osborne
House, Isle of Wight, the dav after. The
Ministers who attend the council will
travel from Victoria station by special
train and will cross to the Isle OF Wight
on one of the royal yachts.
The accepted opinion in the ministerial
circle is that if the subject of Irish finan-
cial reform be mentioned at all it will be
by indirect allusion in connection with
tution of board Of agriculture in Ire
land. This bill, which was fully prepared
months ago, has been before the Cabinet
for revision and is to be redrafted, sig
niicant fact: suggesting some important
change in its provisions.
The United Associated Presses have OBJ
tanned some authoritative information on
the Government proposals as recast ander
pressure of the Irish agitation. The bill,
besides creating the new Irish depart
ment, will empower the board to draw
from the imperial exchequer large an
nual sum in aid of Irish agriculture and
cognate Industries, such as fisheries.
These proposals must fall so lamentably
far short of what is demanded as to justify
the Nationalist Unionist coalition III treat
ing them as q mere instalIment. The
exact line OF opposition to the Government
to be adopted by the coalition will not be
fixed till after the debate on the address
in reply to the Queens speech has opened,
When there will be a conference between
the Nationalist leaders and the mem bers
representing the Irish landlord interests.
one for the Government Is how far the
coalition will work together whether
they will limit their com blned action OF
irish finance or go further.
Unionists like Colonel Saunderson can
not be expected to abandon their hostility
to old forms of home rule, but already it
is known that the Irish Unionists, who
have hitherto opposed all bills introduced
by Nationalists, are ready to relax their
opposition, and on similar Irish questions
to even take united action against the
Government
Among the foremost Unionist speakers
who support the coalition will be Horace
Plunkett, Colonel Saunderson and Sir Ed
ward Clarke. The latter lawyer politician
holds a brief from the Irish landlord in
terests, which would like to get the main
portion of what may accrue to Ireland
when financial redress is granted. Sir Ed
ward Clarke was offered the post of Solic-
itor-General in the Salisbury administra-
ton, but refused it, aiming at higher
Office. He now reioices in a free hand.
and takes exasperating views ont Irish
finance. One of the best debaters in Par
lament, he will give the ministerial side
some trouble. His friends say that disap-
pointed ambition has nothing to do with
his present independence of party ties.