Evening star., 1917-05-17

tend the act to all OF ireland by an order
in council; TO make Recommendations on
ton, including the amendment Of the
home rule act as finally passed. The
president Of this council of Ireland would
be elected by agreement between the dele
cations, or, m default of agreement would
be nominated ny the CROWN
Thrdiy-The letter says that the fnan-
cial proposals of the home rule Dill are
unsatisfactory and should be reconsid-
cred Important objects. such as tire
development of Irish industries. i'm
provement in town housing and the
furtherance Of education, with increased
pay for teachers, owing to the war
with under the bill without undue bur-
den on the Irish taxpayers.
'Tourthly The government would
recommend that after the second read
proposals, togethsr with the home rule
act, 1t should forthwith be considered
by q conference to be constituted on
the lines of the speakers conference on
ing exclusively of members of parlia-
ment and meeting under the chairman
ship Of some one commanding the same
general confidence in his impartiality
and judgment as Mr.. Speaker himself
:; Ready to Introduce Bill.
The letter continues:
which provides for immediate home
rule for the greater part of Ireland,
while excluding that part of Ireland
which objects to coming under the home
rule act for a definite period when
parliament will consider the matter
afresh; which recognizes the profound
sentiment existing in Ireland for the
unity of the country by creating "A
common council to consider Irish af-
fairs as a whole. and which finally sets
ranrpSPnfafiye conference
tempt to adjust the most difficult ques-
tions involved. is as far as they can
possibly go toward efecting ieglsla-
tive settlement in the crisis of a great
bill on these lines
But they feel 1t would be idle. and
i am sure you will agree with them,
to Introduce such bill unless it were
assured of something like a second
reading acceptance from both Irish
parties. L sincerely hope that il the
government introduce this bill the
party of which you are the head will
proposals, which will give immediate
sen-government In Ireland to those
who wish for 1t and will at the same
time create and keep continuously in
being the means whereby a final re-
conciliation between the two sections
of the Irish people can at any time be
brought about.
-We earnestly recommend the pro-
posals which 1 have outlined above to
the dispassionate consideration of the
men of all parties. If, upon such con-
sideration, basis for immediate ac-
ton is found in them we shall proceed
at once with the necessary steps to
carry them into effect. If this should
not be the case there remains an al
tentative plan, which, though it has
been sometimes seriously discussed.
has never been authoritatively pro-
posed-that of assembling a conven-
ton of Irishmen of all parties for the
purpose of produiing scheme Of Irish
self-goyernment.
AS you will remember, the consti-
tuition Of the Union of South Africa was
cuities and obstacles, by a convention
representative of all the interests and
parties in the country, and the govern
ment believes that a similar expedient
might in the last resort be found ef-
fectual in Ireland. Would it be too
much to hope that Irishmen of all
creeds and parties might meet together
in convention for the purpose of draft
ing a constitution for their country
which should secure a just balance of
all the opposing interests and finally
compose the unhappy discords which
have so long distracted Ireland and i'm
peded its harmonious development?
The government is ready, in default
of the adoption of the present proposals
for home rule, to take the necessary
steps for assembling such a convention.
should be much obliged il you found
this letter in order to allow the gov
Monday"