Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-04-13
THE IRISH HGME RULE CRISIS

nifty with the parliament act the bill had passed
the house of commons three times, hence within
given period could have been proclaimed the
law Of the United Kingdom, the house of lords
being powerless in such circumstances to veto
ii, when the present impdssc was reached. Why
the government hesitated to carry the business
through was explained early last month by Pre-
lnier AsquitIl in parliament. A report of his
Statement is here printed in part:
sTIley regarded il as an attempt at once sim
cere and eonsiderate to place upon solid foun-
dation the fabric Of Irish self-goyernment, and
they none Of them believed that il it were placed
as it stood on the statute book tomorrow its
practical operation would involve injustice or
oppression either to class or to individuals Of
Ireland. III We made suggestions which, if ae-
cepted, would require substantial additions to
the government plan, it was not because the
government we're running away from it; lit was
because they we're anxious that the changes
which were inevitable in ireland should start
With the best chance of success. IL the bill WAS
passed as it stood there we're prospects of acute
dissension and civil strife in Ulster. On the
other hand, il home rule we're shpwrecked at
this stage, or permanently mutilated or indefi-
nitely postponed, there was in Ireland, as a
whole, an equally Formidable outlook,
Proceeding, the premier said that the hazards
ii either event we're such. as to warrant in all
anarters not asnffenilef OF principle but any
nractical form Of accommodation which would
lead to an agreed settlement. Lightly sketching
the facts of conferences that had taken place on
tie subject between the government and the
leaders Of the opposition, Mr.. Asquith intimated
that the confidential negotiations had failed to
produce an agreement. After mentioning pro-
posals himself and others which had been found
unacceptable, he announced the final decision as
follows
.sThe government had come to the conclusion
that the best and, indeed, the only practical way
far the simplest and fairest plan-was to al
low the Ulster counties themselves to determine
III the first instance whether or not they desired
to be excluded. Their plan was that any county
III Ulster was to he excluded for certain time
ii on poll being taken of the parliamentary
electors of the county, before the bill came into
operation, majority voted in favor of exclu,
sion.
The poll would be taken, it was explained, on
d requisition signed by onetenth of the electors
il presented within three months of the date of
the, passing of the bill To he taken by ballot
the vote would be on the question: care You in
favor of the exclusion OF the county from the
Government of Ireland Act, 1914, for period
of six years." The term of exclusion would be
not from the passing of the bill, hut from the
first meeting of the Irish parliament in Dublin.
Six years the premier believed would give ample
time to test by experience the working Of the
Irish parliament, and this period was fixed SO
that there should be a full and certain Oppor-
funity for the electors of the whole United
Kingdom to pronounce whether or not eXclu-
sions should come to an end "These proposals
were put forward, the premier concluded amidst
ministerial cheers las the price of peace, and
he asked for their deliberate and dispaSsiOTate
consideration.
Bonar Law. the CniOnist leader, promptly re-
iected the proposal If the condition was that
Ulster must come in at the close of six years
even though its hostility was as great as it was
today Law could not see how it was possible
that the proposal could he accepted by Ulster
If the government adhered to this condition it
must be because they had made offer which
they knew could not he accepted. and which
could only have the effect of improving their
tactical position in the house of commons. SiI
Edward Carson leader of the FISHERMEN, cove