The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-01
Suggests Federal Sys-
tenn Of Government
for British Isles.
UNEXPECTED CALM
ATTENDS DEBATE
Apparently There Is Better Pros
pect of Home Rule Bill Being
Carried by Consent Than Ever
Before-Unionists Alarmed
at Spectre Raised by
Carsonitcs.

London, March 31.-A parliamentary
writer observed a few days ago: This
amazing government seems to thrive
on It's blundera," and the net result of
a crisis without parallel In modern
times has been that tho debate on the
second reading on the home hulc bill
was resumed to-day In an atmosphere
OF unexpected calm, with apparently a
better prospect Of being carried by con-
sent than ever before
The Unton!sts are clearly alarmed at
the spectre which Carson!te methods
have raised of an election fought on Il
platform cry OF The Parliament vs.
the army" Even the moderate Liber-
gle, which. II Is forescen, would let loose
MOOD OF passion exceeding even that
which attended the agitation to abolish
Proposal Well Received.
Hence. the proposal of Sir Edward
Grey. Secretary OF State for Foreign
day or Federal SYSTEM of govern
ment for tho British Isles as a solution
or The dinicGlty which he put forward
ed on both sides of the House with
great sympathy, and II Is believed will
lead 10 a renewal of negotiations be-
tween :he front benches FOR the ar
rangcmcnt of an acceptable compro-
Glise.
Opinion. both inside and outside Par
Lament, supports Il settlement on the
nrty members Of the House, represent
ing both parties, was held o-Qay TO
discuss the question.
Niscount Mcrley's decision not TO re-
sign as Lord presid.nt of the Council
pleascs the Liberals. as at his advanced
age II would have meant his perma-
nent retirement from politics. and the
party would :cgret TO see the veteran
statesman retire under cloud.
Inevitable Acceptnncc.
Especial Cable TO The Times Dis patch.
London. March 3l.-A week ago the
Tories. were shouting: The army has
Killed home rule To-day those speak
ing In the House OF Commons tacitly
admitted that go far from the Irish bill
being dead. thcir only hope at the pres
ent moment was 10 obtain the best pos
The Inevitable acceptance of home rule
By the orpositltn has now become a
truisn.
The real fact is that the Tories hoped
10 XIII the bill by Invoking the aid of
the army, which they industriously and
ins!diously fed with sedition during the
past three years. So soon az the Lib
erals. retaliating, commenced 10 raise
the cry "thc army against the people,
at the same time insisting upon an i'm
mediate appeal TO the people. the Tories
couple OF days 10 discover what the
feeling of the nation was on this point.
In the House OF Commons to-day the
general atmosphere was one of peace
ful calm. Walter Longs speech. NOV
ing fer the rejection of the bill was
one or the most inept efforts of the
generation, his one point seeming to be
that Asquith has placed the opposition
in n quandary by not being there to
listen 10 their threats.
Offers Olive branch.
sir Edward Grey. answering for the
government. seemed TO stihe all op-
position, while still Offering the olive
branch OF peaceful settlement by con-
sent. yet he asserted the bedrock prin-
His terms were that, falling in an
agreement, the home rule bill Will be
passed as it stands; The government
Ulster six years exclusion. but beyond
that the government Will not go But
there is no reason why the six years
elaboration Of the Federal home rule
scheme for all the component parts OF
the British Isles. with Ulster as con-
stituent In any event the general
Parliament and executive are Installed,
which means that anyhow there could
not be coercion In Ulster until after an
appeal to the nation. But If Ulster
takes the initiative by attacking the
CATHOLICS or attempting to seize the
post-otficc or attempting to disturb the
the country with the Imperial Pariia-
ment, then the troops will be used
without hesitation.
Sir Edward concluded by suggesting
sent. 1t is useless TO Keep launching
proposals and counter proposals across
the House. lie recommended the re
sumption OF private negotiations be-
tween the leaders concerned.
Leaders Leave Together.
1t was natural sequel to the speech
that Immediately after Sir Edward had
finished. number of Liberal and Tory
leaders left the Commons together
But one sentence OF the speech has
gripped both those who heard 1t and
those who have read it. and is likely
TO influence enormously the attitude
of the home rule opponents. Grey,
alludinG to the Tory attempt to use
the army to coerce Parliament, said:
Last week the gravest issue for 500
years was raised. If 1t ever becomes a
question who is to govern this COUNTY
whether 1t Is to be Parliament alone.
that is TO govern. or whether 1t is
to be interfered with-then l take NV
stand for Parliament, with the strong
est Labor members"
Coming from the most aristocratic
and moderate Liberal of Europe, this
made clear the fact that both Ulster
men and Tories must proceed on alb
solutely constitutional lines, in order to
gain concessions to their cause. On this
depends the offer of Federalism, again
suggested by Grey to-day.
Frequently Mooted.
This proposal has been frequently
mooted by moderates of both parties
during the past two years. 1t has not
met n cordial reception either from the
Nationalists or extreme sections of
other parties. The idea arose from the
fact that the House Of Commons has
frequently in late years been rendered
ineffective by the enormous volume of
purely local business thrust uDon 1T
under present conditions
a question relating TO some Scotch
crofter or some obscure Welsh post-
M Strpsa In I'M ,,,rcy, tt,,,o az. .