The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1914-07-25
King George Calls Conference to
Assist in Breaking Deadlock.
Rival Leaders Meet.
Commons Likely to Disregard ANY
Agreement Granting Conces-
sisns to Ulster.
Irish and Labor Members Constitute
Governments Majority. Premier
Must Maintain Himsele.

III SOAAPAAduce Will IIle kluS sum-
mons, the eight party leaders most
vitality concerned with settlement
of the home rule deadlock, met at
Buckingham palace Tuesday in an ef-
fcrt to reach an agreement.
The king received them with a
speech which, also according to con-
stitutional custom, was framed by the
prime minister
In this speech the king pointed out
the seriousness of the situation and
the narrow margin of difference which
exists and expressed the hope of
friendly solution of all difficulties.
The eight leaders, some of them
were not on speaking terms, included
John Redmond, the Irish Nationalist
leader and John Dillon, who never
before had come into personal contact
with the king. They discussed the
situation for more than an hour and
then adjourned.
The mere fact that they will have
another meeting shows that as far as
the principals are concerned-and the
principals are, of course, the leaders
of the Liberal and Conservative par
ties-an agreement is in sight. But
agreement by the principals does not
portend by any means definite set
tlement of any scheme for the future
| government of ireland.
The Conservatives have the Ulster
convenanters, represented in the con.
ference by Sir Edward Carson and
Captain James Craig, to reckon with
and Premier Asquith can not deliver
any goods without the consent of the
home rule leaders, Redmond and Dill.
lon.
Moreover, the labor party, which is
an important faction Of the premier's
present majority in the house of COM
mons, is in revolt, and there is bolt
ing contingent in his own party.
Politicians who are conversant with
the inside workings, predict that If the
conference reaches any agreement the
house of commons will throw it out.
The fact that the prime minister con-
sidered 1t necessary to resort to such
q conference is hailed by his op-
ponents as virtual surrender on his
part. His opponents prophesy. and his
real supporters fear, that he will con-
sent to Sir Edward Carson's loudly
proclaimed ultimatum of clear cut
exclusion of the whole of Ulster from
the projected new Irish government.
Parliamentary experts assert If such
an agreement is laid before the house
of commons it will be defeated be-
cause Mr.. AsQuith's majority is depen.
dent upon the Irish and labor men,
bers, and all the Irish and Labor men,
bers with at least 30 bolting Liberals,
will vote against it.
Sir Edward Carson and John Red
mond are not in the conference as free
agents. They represent their support
tcrs, the Orange Ulstermen and the
Catholic Nationalists respectively, and
both Irish factions are in an attitude
not only of no surrender, but of no
compromise.
Messages from all parts of Ireland
say that the Nationalists and the Or
angemen are absolutely at the fight
ing point and will not listen to any
talk of compromise.
There is an outburst of growing and
warnings against the king by the Lib
eral papers. To people who do not un-
derstand English conditions it might
have looked as though the monarchy
were threatened. But this happens in
evitably under similar circumstances.