The Washington herald., 1917-06-24
Hope Ireland Will Come Into War
If Convention Obtains Home Rule
b !oHs q. I: sALpEssToS: 2. E,,;l.s TON,

ment by Lloyd George that q con-
vention OF Irishmen is to be summon
ed to settle the Irish question for
themselves, discussion and eontro-
versy have blazed up again between
the rival factions. Even In London
the titanic struggles in the linden
burg line have temporarily taken sec
ond place In the public mino.
Interviews are given below with
Irishmen representing Nationalist ano
Unionlst opinion. Slim Fein. SO far
a. can be gathered at present, Is op-
posed to the convention, regarding II
as an English trap" and the Sim
Feln committee under the leadership
Of Count Piunkett has made a state
ment demanding convention chosen
by free election, free from English
influence. and free, II 1t so desire, tc
declare for the complete Independence
Representative British opinion be.
longing TO no Irish faction entertains
great hopes OF the coming convention
But even II this fails. II Is hoped that
the stigma placed upon England IN
the eyes Of the world will be removed.
It Il recognized that the allied cause
Is severely handicapped by opinion IN
the United states that ireland Is being
oppressed and Lloyd George, by his
dramatic appeal to the Irish people tc
settle their differences, and his pledge
that the British parliament will carry
out any plan they may substantially
agree upon. Is credited with q master
stroke OF diplomacy.
Optimists think q settlement may be
reached by the convention, with the
result that America and England will
be drawn closer together, and the
strength Of Ireland put into the war.
Pessimists believe that the Irish can
never agree and that the convention
viii fail as everything else has failed.
but they declare that the United States
and the world must realize, IL this
happens, that the fault lies not with
Great Britain but with Ireland her
self
Ireland Is now the only country
where the English language Is spoken
that Is not engaged in war with Ger
many. Early IN the war there was
considerable enthusiasm, several Irish
divisions were formed, about II out of
every 100 1rishmen of military age
went INTO the army. But after q few
months interest waned and hostility
% England increased. and since the
Dublin revolt recruiting has practically
ceased. ireland Is now to all intents
and purposes a neutral country. Lloyd
George Is trying to persuade her TO
and come into the war. II this can be
done, a force of the best fighters in
the world, Variously estimated at from
5000 to $4,000 men, can be obtained.
q reinforcement to the British troops
which could be employed without the
great use Of tonnage necessary to
ferry armies across the Atlantic. The
Irish question, therefore, has become a
world issue, and the result Of the con-
stitutional convention will be watched
with suspense In Berlin as well as in
London and the United States.
N. p. Desires Justice.
Recognition of the sincere desire
OF the majority of Englishmen tC
grant justice to Ireland, and hops
for a prompt settlement, were the
principal points made by John Dill
lon, NJ P, in the course Of an in
present situation. Mr.. Dillon is ont
Of the most influential Irish lead
ers, and q veteran of bitter home
rule strife for the past thirty years
He expressed himself as extremely
hostile to the Slnn Fein movement.
but strongly insisted that the Brit.
ish government must no longer
daily with the situation.
Mr.. Dillon asked that his strin.
gent criticism of British policy ir
Ireland be not interpreted as an at.
tack on the people of England
One Of the most hopeful signs oi
growing number of young English
Tories who are becoming homt
rulers. They are taking a very diff.
ferent attitude from the one they
adopted in 1914. In great measure
this change Is to be attributed tc
the war. The war has been modify
ing the opinions Of all honest and
thoughtful persons. 1t has altered
their perspective, and compelled
them to re-examine their tradi'
tional beliefs"
Has the Russian revolution" Mr.
upon feeling in Ireland?"
Certainly IL has" was the an.
swer. How could it be otherwise.
When you find Mr.. Bonar Law wei.
coming the declared intention OF
the new regime in Russia to hel[
Poland in realizing her unity 'un'
der conditions which will make hel
strong and independent can you be
surprised that his statement should
quicken the demand of young Irish.
men for the application of the samt
principle to their own country"
Mr.. Dillon was asked to state his
government to bring about a settle.
ment- The Irish leaders can make
no further offers Of temporary COM
promise" he said. When the tempo
rary settlement the British govern
ment had induced the Nationalists tc
accept last year broke down the Brit.
blow on the influence of the Irish
party over their countrymen and
enormously increased the power ot
the revolution republican party ir
Ireland today. 1t is responsible for
the choas which exists in Ireland to-
have been told for years by Liberal
ministers who, thanks to Irish
support, held power for many years
that he first step is for the Irish
people themselves to agree. Woulc
any nation have ever obtained self.
government II Il had to wait until II
was unanimous? Are all the Polish
people today OF one mind. When
America gained her independence hel
population included a strong 'loyalist
minority which put great fight
against the majority. When Canada
gained home rule there was a power.
tul opposition within the dominion
itself and precisely the same Ian.
Euage was used as we are hearing
about Irish disagreements today
The only thing that can now prevent
confusion and chaos in Ireland Is
on the part Of the British govern
ment"
Wants Immediate Home Rule.
DO you mean that the Home Rule
act should be brought into operation
AN Immediate Home Rule settle.
ment Is essential" said Mr.. Dillon.
The principle of Home Rule must be
conceded. and II must be so far EN-
bodied in practice that there will nc
longer be the slightest doubt Of Its
reality. The urgent need Of the hour
Is the reconciliation of the Irish peo-
pie, and reconciliation can only bE
effected by q Home Rule settlement
Nothing win be effective that does not
dispel, once and for all. the suspicion
that the British government and Par
Lament do not intend to keep tht
pledges given to the Irish people"
Mr.. Dillon emphatically rejected the
much-discussed proposal that In case
Of deadlock the premiers Of the do
mintons should be asked to mediate
between Nationalists and UIstermen
The idea IL preposterous," he said
1T Is reported that the premlers