The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-05-17

included and excluded areas; to re- commend to the Crown the extension to the excluded area by an order in Council of any act of the Irish Par liament; to agree to the inclusion un- der the Home Rule Act of the whole of Ireland, subject to the assent of 8 majority of the voters in the excluded area, the powers to be vested in the Crown in that case to extend the act to all of Ireland by an order in Coun- cil; to make recommendations on its own initiative upon the Irish question, including the amendment of the Home Rule Act as finally passed. The Pres ident of this Council of Ireland would be elected by agreement between the delegations, or in default of agree mnt would be nominated by the Crown.
 Thirdly. The financial proposals of the Home Rule Bill are unsat1s- factory and should be reconsidered. Important objects, such as the de- velopment of Irish industries, im- provement in town housing and the furtherance of educations with in- creased pay for teachers owing to the war conditions cannot be dealt with under the bill without undue burden on the Irish taxpayers.
 'eFourthly, the government would recommend that, after the second reading of the bill embodying the above proposals, together with the Home Rule Act,s it should forthwith be considered by a conference to be constituted on the lines of the Speak CTS. Conference on Electoral Reform though not consisting exclusively of Members of Parliament, and meeting under the chairmanship of some. one commanding the same general confi- dence in his impartiaHty and tudg- ment as MT. Speaker himself.
 .aThe government feels that a bro- posal which provides for immediate Home Rule for the greater part of Ireland, while excluding that part of Ireland which objects to coming un- der 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 con- sider Irish affairs as a whole, and which, finally, sets up a representa- tive conference to attempt to adjust the most difficult questions involved, is as far as they can possibly go to- ward effecting a legislative settlement in the crisis of a great war. They are prepared to introduce a. bill on these lines.
 But they feel it would be idle, and I am sure you will agree with them, to introduce such a bill unless it were assured of something ike/a second reading acceptance from both Irish parties. I sincerely hope that if the government introduce this bill the party of which you are the head will give this measure of support to the proposals, which will give immediate seH-government in Ireland to those who wish for it and will at the same time create and keep continuously in being the means whereby a final rec onciliation between the two sections of the Irish people can at any time be brought about.
 "Wie earnestly recommend the pro- posals which I have outlined above to the dispassionate consideration of the men of all parties. If upon such con- sIderation a basis for immediate ac- ton is found in them we shall pro- ceed at once with the necessary steps to carry them into effect. If this should not be the case, there remains an alternative plan, which, though it has been sometimes seriously dis cussed, has never been authoritatively proposed-that of assembling a con- vention of Irishmen of all parties for the purpose of producing a scheme ot Irish self-government.
 'tAs you will remember, She consti- tuition of the Union of South Africa was framed, despite most formidable