New-York tribune., 1916-07-29

with Irish representation at Westmin-
ster. 1t is not unnatural that the
/ Unionists contended that Ireland is
/ proportionetely overrepresented IN the
/ House of Commons and that 1t would
not have been fair. either to the por-
tion of Ireland remaining outside of
| the Home Rule scheme or to the other
parts Of the British Isles, TO have re-
tanned such full representation OF
Irish constituencies in the Commons
after the larger part of Ireland had a
/ Parliament of its own to settle its own
domestic affairs.
Scheme of Settlement Proposed.
However, the scheme of settlement
proposed stated in so many words that
when Irish affairs were TO be discussed
in the London Parliament the full Irish
representation should be called 20 par
ticipate, as before the existence of the
Irish Parliament"
Asked whether he thought the
grounds given by the Nationalists for
the rejection of the plan of settlement
were sufficient, Mr.. Lloyd George said:
"In making alterations from the origi-
nal draft of the scheme Of settlement
has done anything fundamentally un-
Just to Ireland. 1t must be remem-
bered that the Unionist leaders who
had fought for a lifetime against Home
Rule had for the first time in history
accepted Home Rule for fve-sixths of
Ireland"
Mr.. Lloyd George spoke without the
slightest trace of bitterness. Asket
whether any further steps would be
taken TO bring the Irish parties to-
gether, the War Secretary said:
81 for one, and ! am sure the mem
bers of the Cabinet are with me, Ger
tanly hope that the last word has not
been said. Il is a great pity that the
scheme was not accepted, for then the
Irish Parliament would have been an
accomplished fact.
Ulster Would Have Joined.
"The Irish people would have OBJ
tained what they have struggled and
suffered for during so many genera
tons. An actual Home Rule Parliament
would be in being for fve-sixths OF
Ireland, and once that were established
nothing in the world could have de
stroyed it again if Home Rule Parlia-
ment worked well, as | feel certain
it would. The apprehensions of Ulster
would be removed and the Ulster coun-
ties would soon come in OF their own
free will, for the Ulstermen are Irish
men and wish to help Ireland work
out her high destiny.
NOW, however, unless some settle
ment is quickly effected, who can tell
what may happen? When the present
war Is over new conditions will have
arisen. How can any man guarantee
what the sentiment of this country
may be at the end of the war on the
question of Home Rule for Ireland, OF
on any other question?
81 hope profoundly for the best.
/ think the Nationalist leaders would
/ have been well advised to have taken
| the offer made TO them. even with the
/ alteration which the Unionist half OF
/ the Cabinet demanded. Nothing in
this altered the fundamental fact that
| all parties in the nation for the first
| time in history were offering Home
| Rule to Nationalist Ireland.
| at was, indeed, a very broad measure
+ OF Home Rule, and, in my opinion, would
certainly have eventually led to all the
/ counties, even those of Ulster. which
/ have been most obstinately opposed to
any such idea, coming into the scheme
/ after they had seen that the rest OF
/ Ireland was really able to govern itself
we'll. We should then have seen what
so many have made sacrifices for-s
real united Ireland"