The daily banner., 1914-07-22
KING PLEADS TO
AVERT CIVIL WAR
Tells Confefees Of Dangers
That Threaten Kingdom
URGE HOME RULE CONCESSION
Monarch Recognizes Gravity OF the
Situation and Asks Conferees 10
Reach Settlement.

London, July 22-For the first time
In the modern history of England the
king recognized that the cry OF cl'll
war was on the lips of many OF his
responsible and sober-minded suoJects
In connection with the Irish home rule
crisis.
The kings speech to the leaders OF
che various parties called together III
conference at Buckingham Palace was
grave in its tone, as he told them ne
regarded them as the trustees Tor the
honor and peace on all and LETT them
to confer In view of reaching settle
ment.
He told them their responsibilities
were great, and that time was short,
and advised them to exercise patience
and to be earnest and conciliatory in
their deliberations.
'.It is with feelings of satisfaction
and hopefulness," he said, that l re-
ceive you here, and l thank you 1or
the manner in which you have re-
sponded to my summons. 1t is also
matter of congratulation that the
speaker of the house of commons mas
consented to preside over your meet
ines. NV intervention at this moment
may be regarded as new departure
but the exceptional circumstances un'
der which you are brought together
Justify my action.
"For months we have watched Win
deep misgiv1ngs the course of events
In Ireland. The trend has been surely
snd steadily toward an appeal to force
and today the cry of civil war is on
the lips Of the most responsible and
soberminded of my people.
I'VE have in the past endeavored
to act as q civilizing example to the
world, and to me it is unthinkable as
It must be to you that we should be
brought to the brink of fratricidal
strife upon issues apparently so capa'
BILE of adjustment as those we are
now asked to consider If handled In
spirit of generous compromise.
my apprehension in contemplating
such a dire calamiy is intensified by
my feeling of attachment to Ireland
and Of sympthy with her people who
have always welcomed me with warm
hearted affection.
"Gentlemen, you represent In one
form or another the vast majority OF
my subjects at home. You also have a
deep interest In my dominions oversee,
which are scarcely less concerned In
the prompt and friendly settlement OF
this question.
81 regard you then in this matter
- trustees for the honor and peace
Of all.
"Your responsibilities are indeed
great. The time is short. You will
know employ 1t to the fullest advaa-
tage and be patient, earnest and con
ciliatory.
In vtex.>of. the magnitude of the
interests at stake, pray God In his
Infinite wisdom may guide you and
your deliberations to that they may
result in the Joy of peace and an hon,
orable settlement"
The king remained only a short
time and then left the conferees to
their deliberations.
While the leaders were In confer.
ence preparations were being made by
the chief Unionist organizer for gen
oral election. He sent orders to all
the constituencies to prepare for an
election three weeks after the confer
ence, as the leaders are convinced
that no matter what may be done at
Buckingham Palace the house Of com.
mons soon must be dissolved.
-Durig the time the conferees sat
around the table in Buckingham Pal.
ace they found an opportunity to dis
cuss many points Of difference, and
before adJourning touched on the
question Of the exclusion OF the county
Of Tyrone from the operations of the
Irish home rule bill, a point which
everybody recognizes as the most
thorny one of the whole subject.
The general impression prevails
that the conference will settle this
matter, since nobody believes the re
quest for the exclusion of one county
will be allowed by eight politicians
possessing the ability of the conferees
to turn the scales for civil war