The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-03-08
IRISH HOME RULE
QUESTION AGAIN
BROUGHT UP
By Presentation by Irish Nationalists OF
Petition for Immediate Application
of the State-Lloyd George
Faced Serious Problem.

UdIbu one OI Tile IIlOSt DlJltT StNoiohs d
months and threw the home rule qucs
, tion back into its old position OF uncer
tainty. The resolution forced the gov
ernment into declaration of policy to
wards government, namely, that an.
part of Ireland that wished home rul
could have it, but that no coercion woul
be employed to compel Ulster to accept
At the same time the proposal drew from
the Ulsterites the ultimatum that the,
would not accept, which, coupled will
the governments pronouneement, effect
ually crushed all hopes for speedy set
tlement.
The Nationalists, headed by their lead
er, John Redmond, withdrew in body
from the House of Commons, and Mr.
Lloyd George was facing his first EN-
barrassing situation since he assumed
the premiership.
For more than an hour before the Ma
tionalists left the House, the premier hac
faced whrlwind of angry censure from
the Nationalist quarter, which at times
forced him to take his seat because he
could not make himself heard. He was
called ''turn-coat" on the home rule ques-
tion, and one Nationalist exclaimed
"Hangman Carson He is only fit to be
hangman, not first lord of the admir-
atty"
The Nationalist resolution was intro
duced by T. P. O'Connor who asserted
that the manner in which the govern
ment had handled the Irish rebellion had
transformed friendly people into one
! filled with bitter hatred against England.
He pleaded that home rule should be put
into operation Immediately for the sake
of Ireland and in the interests OF Eng
land, the empire and the allies.
At one point in his address he paid
tribute to the president of the United
States, saying that President Wilson in
his recent speeches and notes had shown
that the United States government rec
ognized the rights of small nations and
the principle of nationality. He called
attention to the valiant service rendered
by the Irish troops at the front and as
understanding that home rule was to be
applied to their country. In conclusion
he said there were only two ways of rem
edy-s settlement or coercion. He favored
settlement.
Mr.. 0'Connor was followed by William
A. Redmond, who made nm impassioned
plea for compromise between the Ma
tionalists and Unionists and sat down
amid the applause of the House.
Thus far things had been running
smoothly, but Sir John Lonsdale, speak
ing for the Unionists, threw wrench
into the machinery by declaring that u
ster wanted nothing to do with home
rule OF this sort and sareastically re-
furnished troops and money from pure
patriotism and without hope of gain for
themselves.
Premier Lloyd George followed with
the pronouncement of the government
which was to the effect that the United
Kingdom was prepared to confer self
government on parts of Ireland clearly
it. The premier, however,
urged the necessity of postponing the
Irish controversy during the war in the |
interests of national unity, which, he de- |
rlared was as essential as national safe |
by.
Mr.. Lloyd George asserted that the |
view was that it would be |
70 submit to be governed against their /
will. He suggested two alternatives for
he settlement of the differences between
he Irish factions. One was a conference
If Irishmen and the other was the set
ing up of commission of inquiry TO
'eport to the government and Parlia-
nent.
Premier Lloyd George concluded by
moving an amendment to the resolution
,ffered by Mr.. O'Connor. The amend
nent reads:
"The House would welcome any settle
nent which would produce a better un-
Outstanding between Ireland and the rest
# the United Kingdom, but considers it
impossible to impose by force on any
ection of Ireland form of government
which has not their consent"
Mr.. Lloyd George was continually in
errupted, and, as he proceeded was
reeted with angry jeers from the Ma
ionalists, who accused him of deserting ,
ome rule. In conclusion he offered an I
mendment to the Nationalist resolution :
o the effect that: "This House would ,
Welcome any settlement which would j
roduce a better understanding between i
reland and the rest of the United King
ON, but considers it impossible to i'm ,
ose by force on any section Of Ireland Z
form of government which has not
heir consent" 7
As the premier sat down ex-Premier a
squith arose and began a conciliatory I
peech. He pointed out the seriousness v
the situation and advocated a COM f
romise. He suggested that the minis
FRS of the dominion who are in Eng
md should be called in TO act as media
Drs and report 10 Parliament.
John Redmond, the Nationalist lead
:, Immediately took the floor and de-
ared in no uncertain terms that he
ould have nothing to do with further i
egotistions he and his followers, he C
lid, had been fooled once before. After o
brief speech he withdrew from the n
ouse with his sdherents, and the Ma p
onalists went into conference. The a
lly result of this meeting made known n
as that the Nstionalists voted approx
OF Mr. Redmonds action.