The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-05-17
Premier Defines Lengths to
Which Government Can
Go Safely Now.
NORTHEAST COUNTIES
OF ULSTER EXCLUDED
Principles o. Home Rule to
Apply to Balance In
Ger Limitations.

London. May 16.-The British prime
minister today sent a letter to John
redmond. leader of the Irish national
ist party, outlining the governments S
project FOR the settlement of the home
rule question. He asked Mr. Redmond
to state his views on the government $
suggestion in order that the govern
mcnt may be able to consider the mat
tcrs before Monday.
AS soon as the premcrs proposals
were available. the Irish Unionists met
to discuss the document. The Nj
Thursday morning for the same pur-
pose.
The government. the letter sets forth,
has been desirous Of effecting an i'm
mediate settlement. which will conce,lc
the largest possible measure of home
rule that can be secured BY agreement
at this moment without prejudice to
the undertaking by parliament of Il
further and final settlement of the
most disputed questions after the war.
The governments proposals provide
for the Introduction of a bill for the
immediate application of the home rule
act to Ireland. but excluding the six
counties of northeast Ulster, such ex-
! clusion to be subject to reconsidera :
! ton by parliament at the end OF five
| years: a council or Ireland to be com
| posed of two delegations, representing
| the excluded area as well as the new
Irish parliament: consideration of tho
bill after it's second reading by a spe-
cial conference under the chairman
ship of some one commanding genera
confidence.
| AS an alternative, it is suggested h,
the premier that a convention of Irish
| men of all parties be assembled fo
| the purpose of arranging a scheme 0
Irish self government
| Premier Lloyd Georges letter to Mr.
Redmond in part. follows:
The Premier's Letter.
Dear Mr.. Redmond: The govern.
ment has been considering for som,
Itime what furN,er action they woul,
take to bring about the settlement o
the Irish question. They have ap
preached the subject with a deep de
sire to put an end to "A state of af
fairs which is productive of imincns
evil. not only to Ireland, but to Grea
Britain and the empire.
THE choice of alternatives open I
them, however, has been narrowed b
the fact that it is impossible for thcr
in the crisis of a war in which ou
safety and the liberty of most of tn
nations Of Europe Is at stake to tax
action which would revive a violer
political controversy and so Weakc
or imperil the unity which is esscnti,
to the supreme necessity of winnin
, the war. They have, therefore, fe
that any settlement which they coul
propose during the war must be on
which would be accepted by both side
'"They could have wished in accord
, ance with this principle to enter upo
, negotiations with the Irish represents
tivcs. but this, AS you know, was in
possible. owing to the decision of yot
, party not to negotiate with the go,
Crnmcnt.
'Thc desire OF the government h:
a been to try to effect an immcdiat
, settlement. cOnccding the largest pos
, sible measure of home rule. which ca
, be secured by agreement at this m,
mcnt without prejudice To the under
taking by parliament of further an
final settlement of the questions mo
In dispute after the war. They ar
therefore. prepared to put forwa,
proposals on the following lines wi,
r a view to present action:
"Firstly-They would introduce
4 (cOntinupd On Pace TcnN