The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-03-08
HOME RULE IF
ULSTER is OUT
Irish NatiOnalists Force
British Premier Into En-
barrassing Offer.
Is CALLED "TURNCOAT"
He Then Suggests Compromise
by Council Of Irishmcn OF
Outside Mediation.

LONDON. March THE presentation
py the Irish Nationalists In the House
or Commons this evening of q resolu-
tion calling for the immediate applica-
ton OF the home rule statute to Ire,
land precipitated one OF the most bitter
sessions In months and threw the home
rule question back into its old position
Of uncertainty
The resolution forced the Government
Into a declaration OF policy toward self
| government, namely. that any part OF
Ireland that wished home rule could
have 1t, but that no coercion would be
| employed to compel Ulster to accept. At
the same time the proposal drew from
the Obstetrics the ultimatum that they
| would not accept, which, coupled with
he Governments pronouncement, cffec.
tually crushed oil hopes for speedy set
tlement.
| The National!sts tonight, headed by
their leader. John Redmond. were in
conference having Withdrawn in body
! from the House Of Commons, and Mr..
| Lloyd George was facing his first em-
barrassing situation since he assumed
the Premiership
Premier Called "TurncOat."
! For more than an hour before the Ma.
t!onal!sts left the House the Premier
had faced a whirlwind OF angry censure
from the Nationalist quarter which at
times forced him to take his seat be-
cause he could not make himself heard.
He WAS called a "turDcoat' on the home
] rude question, and one Nationalist ex-
claimed: "Hangman Carson: Ire II only
ht to be hangman, not First Lord OF
the Admiralty"
/, 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 a friendly people into one
filed with bitter hatred against Eng
| land. He pleaded that home rule should
be put into operation Immediately for
the sake of Ireland and in the interests
OF England. the empire and 1t allies.
| At one point in his address he paid
| tribute 10 tho President Of the United
States. saying that President Wilson in
his recent speeches and notes had
shown that tho United States Govern
| mert recognized 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 asserted that they had
enlisted with the understanding that
homo rule was to be applied 10 their
country. In conclusion he said there
were only two ways OF remedy-settle-
ment or coercion. He favored settle.
ment.
Redmond for Compromise.
Mr.. O'Connor was followed by Will
liam A. Redmond. who made an inn
passioned plea for compromise he
tween the Natlonalists and Unionists
and sat down amid the applause Of the
House.
Thus far things had been running
smoothly. hut Sir John Lonsdale. speaking
for the Unionists. threw a wrench into
the machinery by declaring that Ulster
wanted nothing to do with home rule
Of this sort and sarcastically remarked
that his section of Ireland had furnished
troops and money from pure patriotism
and without hope OF gain for themselves
Premier Lloyd George followed with
the pronouncement Of the Government
and, after stating that any part Of Ire
land that wanted home rule could have
II. suggested two alternatives for the
settlement Of the differences between
the Irish factions. One was a con-
ference Of Irishmen and the other was
the setting up Of commission Of In
Parliament.
Firm Against Coercion.
Mr.. Lloyd George was continually in.
, terrlptcd and, az he proceeded, was
greeted with angry teers from the Ma
, tionalists. who accused him OF deserving
home rule In conclusion he offered an
, amendment to the Nationalist resolution
to the effect that this House would well
come any settlement which would pro.
duce q better undertaking between Ire.
land and the rest OF the United King.
dom, hut considers II impossible TO i'm .
pose by force on any section OF Ireland
! a form OF government which has not
their consent"
As the Premier sat down ex-Premier
, Asauith arose and began a conclliatory
} speech. He pointed out the seriousness
J OF the situation and advocated a COM
promise. He suggested that the Minis
, ters Of the Dominions who are In Eng
land should be called In to act as media.
tors and report to Parliament
: John Redmond. the Nationalist leader,
5 Immediately took the floor and declared
, In no uncertain terms that he would have
nothing to do with further negotiations
He and his followers, he said, had been
, fooled once before. After a brief speech
, he withdrew from the House with hi.
RdherentS, ana tne NatlOnnllStS went
into conference. The only result OF this
meeting made known was that the Ma.
tionalists voted approval Of Mr.. Red
A mond's action.
, Another Conference To-day.
Another meeting OF the Nationalist.
, has been arranged for tomorrow, and
a the deepest interest attaches to this, a.
: there are many who still feel, In view O,
: the statements Of the Premier and Mr.
AsQuith concerning possible settle
. ment. that an early opportunity shoult
be taken to submit proposals in ~ NOR,
, concise form for the consideration o.
= the parties concerned.
Timothy Healy, who did not follow
Mr.. RedmOnd's lead In quitting tn,
7, House, sarca stically predicted in tn,
y course OF a speech late tonight tha
= "Mr. Redmond. who made such {
. dramatic skedaddie from the House. will
return with his tail between his legs.
He also declared that the Irish peOpl,
would "be able to take the measure o
this prearranged play acting"
D From the day the home rule bill wal
introduced In 1912. Mr. Healy said, h,
had never known Mr.. Redmond to hol,
y out tho hand of friendship to the Con
Q servative party. On the contrary h,
= had tabooed every suggestion the Con