The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1903-02-28
THE IRISH LAND BILL
VIII Soon Come Before Parliamen,
for Debate.

Tor DEBATE.
LONDON, Feb. 21.-As the result
of interviews with the duke of Aber-
corn, Lord Dunraven, John Redmond.
and others it can be announced
autloritatively that the following is
the situation to-day as regards the
plan finally to settle the Irish land
question:
All the interested parties-national-
lists, unionists, landlords, and tenants
lire now for the first time in the
history Of Ireland in agreement, upon
the lines of the Dublin conference
They also have Joined forces in bring
ing pressure OH the government to
make Secretary Wyndham's forthcom-
ing bill agree in spirit with the recon-
mendations of the conference, and all
indications point to the bill conced-
ing those demands.
The bill will be introduced in parlia-
ment at the end of March. and, if
passed, will accomplish What Mr.. Red
mond and Lord Dunraven agree in
saying will be one of the most ex-
traordinary peaceful revolutions ever
Effected
If Mr.. Wyndham. for lack of funds
or other causes, fails to meet the views
of the conference he will have on his
hands, to quote Mr.. Redmond, ''an Ire
land such as the world never has
seem"
In this view such Il strong supporter
of the government as the duke of
Abercorn concurs. Mr.. Redmond adds:
IF this agreement of keenly oppos-
ing parties lacks fultillment through
the governments refusal, there will be
twice as many counties under the ban
of the crimes act as there were prior
to the present truce. This truce will
he continued until the terms of the
bill are revealed. \ great nationalist
conference. at which Bourke Cochran
of New York, will he one of the prin-
cipal speakers, will meet in Dublin in
April to take action OH the subject
The duke of Abercorn, who is presi-
dent of the powerful Irish Landlords
association. which at first declined to
join the earl of Mayo and Lord Dun
raven in comforting with the national
lists, but which later signified it's as
sent, frankly admits that he is amazed
ut the results achieved and ut the
''happy topsy turvydom'' now prevail
ing in Irish politics.
Asked if he thought the nationalists
We're sincere in their professions of
Willingness to settle the long stand
ing grievances by Il compromise, he
emphatically expressed his belief in
their complete sincerity.
The duke could not conceive that
the government would "stand OH any
bubbles" when the solution of the
most serious problem of the empire
WAS within it's grasp. He thought the
process of changing the holdings from
the landlord to the tenant might pos
sibly cost $3.5OO.OOO annually, adding:
1T surely would he cheap ut that
price"
Neither Mr.. Redmond nor Lord Dun
raven believes the transfer OF the land
would involve more than S1,5OO,OOO an
nually, and both think that the econ
omiaS rnSrItiu,r f,om tl,o cl,aonor ,,.I
miniStlation would reduce this figure
greatly. if they do not eventually
quite wipe out the necessity for state
aid in the payment of the difference
between the maximum price the ten
ant can afford to pay and the mini
mum price the landlord can accept.
The Irish unionist leaders are of
the opinion that the whole question
might be declared settled in advance
ii the government was not so "despcr-
ately hard up" In consequence of
this lack of funds, Mr.. Wyndham's
bill will not be introduced until after
the presentat ton of the budget. so that
any money to carry out the provisions
of the bill will not he included in the
years taxes.
Chancellor of the Exchequer Richie,
While quite sympathetic toward Ire
land, now faces a more serious finan-
cial situation and more bitter protests
against overtaxation than have con-
fronted any chancellor in recent years.
The phenomenally small government
majorities since parliament reassem-
bled are indications of the storm
which is brewing over Mr.. Ritchie's
head. He must also float a new
Transvaal loan before Ireland gets an
additional penny and the government,
with reason, is keenly anxious in this
respect.
Consols yesterday were at the low
est point reached this year. and in
quiries made at Anglo-American bank
ing houses, such as the Morgans. Sell
igmans. and Speyers. reveal the fact
that there is no indication of the Unit
ed States subscribing to loan.
Since the last war loan was so
largely underwritten in New York the
international monetary situation has
changed completely. and the firms here
say that the Americans now need their
capital for use Mt home. One finan-
cier said: