New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-18

eral enthusiasm. These, at least. have
met with little hostility.
Believe Government Sincere
There is general feeling of sym
pathy with the government and under
standing that if settlement is at all
possible Il wants 70 accomplish IL. A
very high official, speaking admittedly
~ behalf OF the War Cabinet, said TO
The Tribune to-day:
There is nothing the government is
50 anxious to obtain as a settlement OF
the Irish question. Nothing would
please il better than to be able to say
That is finally finished
There seems TO be an impression
IN America that Britain wants to him
DER a reconciliation in Ireland. Moth
ing could be further from the truth.
The British government is ready 70 60
TO considerable lengths to obtain set
Element. II this is obtained the gov
eminent is prepared to be most gen
crous as regards finance. and 20 treat
any such question arising on the most
liberal scale.
at feels that the present proposals
largely meet the desires Of all sections
Of Ireland. while above all the estab-
lshment Of the Council Of Ireland
ought TO give a feeling of security to
all parties that none will be over
ridden by the others. At the same
time the door is left open to the pos
sible establishment Of one parliament
and one governing authority in ireland,
should the excluded counties wish TO
vote themselves into the Union.
IL 10, a
prove unacceptable great hopes arc
placed in the summoning Of national
convention wherein Irishmen Of all
creeds and parties will be able to meet
and discuss possible terms.
4 Question for Irishmen
"The government earnestly wants TO
see a settlement reached, but at the
same time IT realizes that the lrsh
question is one which primarily must
be settled by Irishmen themselves.
On the whole the Nationalist met
the suggestion fairly favorably, al
though objecting from the start to any
partition basis. The majority strongly
favored the convention plan, and Red
mond's reply 10 the Premier, as was
expected. took that line. 1t follows:
Dear Mr.. Lloyd George: Inc
grounds whereon the Irish party de-
cided not TO negotiate with the govern
ment are we'll known to you. and 40
not think il would serve any usetul
purpose to re-state them on this occa-
son. note what you say as TO INC
impossibility of taking action whlch
would revive violent political contro-
versv in the crisis of the war, and the
necessity imposed upon the
Of combining themselves 10
proposing a settlement which would De
substantially accepted by both sides.
81 cannot accept this proposition, ana
must observe that il has not been ap-
piled in some other matters since the
outbreak of the war.
81 have laid your letter before my
colleagues and they have carefully
considered the two alternative pro
posals contained therein. The first
proposal would not. in their opinion,
find support in Ireland, and they de-
sire me 10 inform you they are IT.
reconcilably opposed to this scheme
and that any measures based thereon
will meet with their vigorous .opposi-
ton. The reasons for this decision
can better. If necessary, be stated IN
the debate on Monday.
Convention Scheme Favored
"The second alternative, the as
of a convention of freshmen
of all parties. fer the purpose of pro-
ducinc scheme of Irish self-goVern-
ment, has much TO recommend 1t. You
ask. Would it be too much TO nope
that Irishmen of all creeds and parties
might meet in convention for the pur-
pose Of drafting a constitution when
will secure Just balance of all OPP
posing interests and finally compose
the unhappy discords which so long
have distracted Ireland and lmpeoed
its harmonious development
"This is the great ideal, and / trus'
il NAV be found possible of realization,
Nv colleagues and |, at all events, VIII
Mace no obstacle in the way. and we
are prepared TO recommend TINS pro-
posal most earnestly TO our country
men on condition that the basis where
on the convention is TO be called IS
such as to secure that it will be fully.
and fairly represented Of freshmen OF
all creeds, interests and parties and
secondly. that the convention be sum-
moned without delay.
"If this proposal is put into opera
tion I can assure you that no effort on
the part Of my colleagues and myseii
will be spared to realize the high ana
blessed ideal pointed to IN the con-