Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-18
'*lrreconcilably Opposed to This
Scheme" Says John Redmond in
Rejecting the Home Rule Proposal
McAdoo At milwaukee,.

plan for the settlement Of the Irish
question. has received no good word
from anybody in ireland. National
lists, whether supporters or opponents
of John Redmond. agree in condemn
ing the proposals. They are regarded
az the worst yet put forward, and as
putting the clock back behind the po-
sition Sir Edward Carson, the Ulster
leader, assumed at the buckingham
palace conference in 1914. It is point
ed out that they exclude six counties
on bloc without giving them a chance
of voting their views.
Many of the Natonalists express
the opinion that the partition policy
was adopted as q tactical move to de-
feat home rule, and that once homo
rule was recognized as inevitable. even
the Unionist counties would vote
themselves in with the help of the
Episcopalian Protestants, whose
church is bound my many ties to all
Ireland.
II ID also felt that the proposals. do
n4t enly :. prevent the Nationalist
counties from voting themselves in,
but hinder their coming in later by
providing FOR their inclusion with the
others in ono unit.
John Redmond. leader Of the Irish
Nationalists in the house Of commons,
rejected the proposal yesterday in a
1ettsf to the premier.
Mr.. Redmond'a Letter.
Mr.. Redmond's letter follows:
Dear Mr.. Lloyd George-The
grounds whereon the Irish party de-
cided not to negotiate with the gov
ernment are we'll known to you, and
do not think it would serve any
useful purpose to re-state them on
this occasion. I note what you say as
which would revive vfoient political
controversy in the crisis Of the war,
and consequent necessity imposed up
on the government Of confining them
selves to proposing settlement
which would be substantially accept
ed by both Sides
IT cannot accept this proposition,
and must observe that 1t has not been
applied in some other matters since
the outcome Of the war.
IT have laid your letter before my
colleagues, and they have most care
fully considered the two alternative
proposal would not, in their opinion.
find support in Ireland, and they de-
sire me to inform you they are IRE
| concilably opposed to this scheme, and
that any measure based thereon will
meet with their vigorous opposition.
The reasons for this decision can bet
ter, II necessary, be stated in the de-
bate on Monday.
Favor Holding Convention.
"The second alternative, the as
sembling Of a convention Of 1rishmen
Of all parties for the purpose OF pro-
ducing q scheme for self-government
has much to recommend 1t. You ask:
Would 1t be too much to hope that
Irishmen Of all creeds and parties
might meet in convention for the pur-
pose Of drafting a constitution which
will secure just balance for all op-
posing interests and finally compose
the unhappy discords which 90 long
have districted Ireland and impeded
its harmonious Development
'This is the great ideal, and I trust
It may be found possible Of realiza-
ton. My colleagues and I, at all events
will place no obstacle in the way, and
we are prepared to recommend this
proposal most earnestly to- our coun-
trymen on condition that the basis
whereon the convention Is to be called
is such n to secure that It will be
fully and fairly representative OF
Irishmen Of all creeds. interests and
/ parties, and secondedly, that the con-
vention be summoned without delay
II this proposal 10 put into operation
] can assure you that no effort on the
part Of my colleagues or myself will
be spared to realize tho high and
blessed ideal pointed to in the con-
cluding paragraph Of your letter."