The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-08
Irish Nationalists Demand
Immediate Application
of Statute.
WON'T COERCE ULSTER
LLOYD-GEORGE STATES
Rest Of Ireland Can Have
Home Rule - Premier
Faces Criticism.

London, March THE presentation
by the Irish nationalists in the house
OF commons this evening OF rcsolu :
tiOn calling for the immediate appli-
cation Of the home rule statute to Ire
land precipitated one OF the most bit
ter sessions in months and threw the
home rule question back into it's old
position of uncertainty. The resolu :
ton forced the government into n dec
laration OF policy towards self govern :
ment that any part Of Ireland that
wished home rule could have 1t, but
that no coercion would be employed ia
compel Ulster to accept. At the same
time. the proposal drew from the
ulsterites the ultimatum that they
would not accept. which coupled with
the governments pronouncement. ef-
fectually crhshed all hopes for a
speedy settlement.
First Embarrassment.
The Nationalists tonight, headed by
their leader, John Redmond, were In
body from the house Of commons and
Lloyd George was facing his first en-
barrassing situation since he assumed
the premiership.
For more than an hour before the
nationalists left the house, the premier
had faced n whirlwind Of angry
censure from the nationalist quarter
which ut times forced him to take his
seat because he could not make himself
heard. He was called a "turncoat'' on
the home rule question and one nation
'alist exclaimed. s-4
2 "Hanglnan Carson! He Is only I'll
to be n hangman, not first lord of the
admiralty" -1 f5. -s "T
-... Hatred Against England.
The Nationalist resolution was in
trodueed by Il. p. O'Connor who as
serted that the manner in which the
government had handled the irish re :
bellion had transformed n friendly
people into one filled with bitter
hatred for England. He pleaded that
home rule should be put into opera
tion immediately for the. sake OF Ire
land and in the interest of England,
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 govern
ment recognized the rights of small
nations and the principle Of nation
ality. -..s
He called attention to the valiant
service rendered by the Irish troops
at the front and asserted that they
had enlisted with the understanding
that home rule was to be applied to
their country. In conclusion he said
there were only two ways Of remedy
settlement or coercion. He favored
settlement. rsS
Redmond Makes Plea.
Mr.. O'Connor was followed by Will
lam A. Redmond. who made an I'm
passioned plea for compromise be
tween the Nationalists and the Union
lists and sat down amid the applause
of the house.
,Thss far things had been running
smoothly. but Sir John I.onsdale
speaking for the Unionists, threw a
wrench into the machinery by de-
claring that Ulster wanted nothing tc
do. with home rule of this sort. ant
sarcastically remarked that his sec.
ton OF ireland had furnished troop.
and money from pure patriotism ant
without hope Of gain for themselves
Lloyd George Speaks.
Premier Lloyd George followed with
the pronouncement Of the government
and after stating that any part Of
Ireland that Wanted home rule coult
have 1t, suggested two alternatives fol
the settlement Of the differences be,
tween the Irish factions. One was /;
conference of Irishmen and the othel
was the setting up of a commission O.
inquiry to report to the government
and parliament.
Mr.. Lloyd George was continual,
interrupted, and as he proceeded wa.
greeted with angry jeers from the Ma
tionalists who accused him OF desert
ing home rule. In conclusion he OF
fered nm amendment to the Nationals
resolution to the effect that:
This house would welcome an,
settlement which would produce bette
understanding between Ireland and tn
rest of tha United Kingdom. but 1t i
impossible to impose by force on an,
section of Ireland a form of govern
ment which has not their consent"
!, AS the premier sat down, ex.Premie
'Asduith rose md began. d conciliator
speech. He pointed out the seriousness
Of the situation and advocated q com