New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-09
TWO LIBERAL PERILS.
IRELAND And COLONIES
Council BIZ Rouses No Enthusiasm
Nationalist Opinion.

London, May S-The United Kingdom has had
full day to digest Mr.. Birrell's Irish bill,
but not the falntest note of enthusiasm for the
proposed council has been heard in a,v quarter
The measure is recognized eYerywI ere to be a
faint hearted attempt to redeem campaien
promises. Mr.. Ba1four's taunt of Mr. Birrell
thar his heart was not in his work, seems to hit
the mark
Ireland appears to be even less pleased than
England. 1t is expected that the proposed Ma
tionalist convention will indorse the PLAN with a
lively attack on the government for not giving
a greater degree Of home rule.
Irish legislation and the imperial conference
to-day appear TO be two stumbling blocks which
may eventually cause the downfall of the Camp
bell-Bannerman Cabinet. Both parties are at
tempting TO exploit the visiting colonial Premiers
for their own purposes. The Opposition has
taken Up the catch word the great refusal" for
the Governments rejection of all preferential
schemes. and the Premiers promise to do some
strong talking in the way of an appeal to pub.
lie sentiment before leaving England.
Timothy Healy, Nationalist member of Par
lament for the North Division of Louth, in an
interview to-day, described Mr. Birrels bill as
mischievous and useless. He said he dfsked
il in every detail, that e would not vote for its
second reading, and that he believed 1t inpos-
slble 10 amend it so to make 1t worth his
While TO support fits third reading The whole
scheme. he said, was effort to shift England
dlh1cultfes and discredits TO Irish shoulders 1T
is not half as good as Lord Dunraven's bill,
offered us by a Tory government continued
Mr.. Healy, and neither from the English nor
the Irish point of view should 1t ever be al
lowed to become law. 1t will appease nobody
in Ireland, attract Irish gratitude or soften
the feelings Of a single Nationalist toward Eng
land. do not believe that even Lord Roseberv
would have offered miserable a makeshift
If were a Tory would back this bill for all
I am worth. because 1t viii kill Home Rule. kill
the Irish nationalist spirit among the exiles
abroad, and switch off public attention from any
claims the Nationalists may make in England"
The Unionists have arranged for a great meet
ing Of protest 10 be held in Queens Hall on
June l3. A J. Balfour will preside and he will
be supported by all the leaders OF his party.
Dublin. May S-The Introduction of Mr.. Bir
rells Irish bill has not evoked much enthusiasm
in the Nationalist newspapers but there is n
tendency 20 favor its acceptance as an install
ment OF a larger policy. The Irish people"
says The Freeman's Journal" will give the
most careful consideration TO the proposals with
tia desire TO find in them a measure Of useful
ness
The Irish Independent" remarks that the
measure gives Ireland but the minimum of
what she could accept as administrative re-
form, and puts an end TO the indefensibie sys-
TEN Of government by irresponsible depart
znents"
The Cnionist press bitterly opposes the bill
The Irish Times" says II violates every princl-
pie Of common sense and that its adoption
would be followed by separation as surely as
night follows day"
The Daily Express" says: THE council will
be standing committee of the separatist party,
and the loyal minority will be wiped out. The
checks provided are entirely nIusory."