The sun., 1917-05-17
NEW IRISH RULE
TERMS DEFINED
Provides Home Government
for Ireland, Excluding
Ulster Section.
JOINT COUNCIL CREATED
Lloyd George in Letter Asks
John Redmond to Con.
slider Proposal.
JOINT COUNCIL CREATED

LONDON. May 16.--Lloyd George, Brit
ish Primo Mtister, to-day sent letter
to John Redmond. leader OF the Irish Ma
tionalist party, outlining the Govern
ment's project for the settlement Of the
home rule question. lie asked Mr.. Red
mond to state his views on the Govern
ment's suggestions that the Government
might be able to consider the matter
before Monday.
As soon rs the Premier's proposals.
were available the Irish Cnionists met to
ciscuss the document. The Nationalists
will hold meeting on Thursday for the
same purpose.
Would End Unrest.
The Premier's letter to Mr.. Redmond
follows:
Dear Mr.. Redmond-The Government
have been considering for some time
what further action they would take to
bring about the settlement OF the Irish
question. They have approached the
subject with a deep desire to put an end
to state OF affairs which Is productive
OF immense evil not only to Ireland but
to Great Britain and the empire.
THE choice Of alternatives open to
them. however. has been narrowed by the
fact that II Is impossible for them In the
crisis Of q war In which our safety and
tho liberty OF most of the nations Of
Europe are at stake to take action which
would revive a violent political contro-
a ~.
which is essential TO the supreme neces-
sity of winning the war. They have
therefore felt that any settlement which
they could propose during the war must
be one which would be substantially ac-
cepted by both sides.
Proposals. Are offered.
"The desire of the Government has
been to try to effect an immediate set
Element conceding the largest possible
measure Of home rule which can be So
cured By agreement at this moment.
without prejudice to tho undertaking of
Parliament Of further and final SETTLE
| ment Of the questions most In dispute
after the war. They are therefore pre-
pared to put forward proposals on the
following lines with a view to present
action:
"Firstly-They would introduce n bill
| for the immediate application OF the
home rule act to Ireland. but exclud-
| ing therefrom the six northeast coun.
ties of Ulster, such exclusion TO be
subject to reconsideration by Parla-
ment at the end OF five years, unless Il
| is previously terminated by the action
OF the Council Of Ireland. to be set up
| az hereinafter described.
"Secondly-With view TO securing the
/ L.
! action for the whole of Ireland the bill
| would provide for q Council OF Ireland
to be composed of two delegations
consisting on the one hand OF ali
members returned to Westminster
| from the excluded area, and on the
other OF n delegation equal I'm mum.
bers from the Irish Parliament, this
council to be summoned on the initia.
tive OF any six members. Ii would bs
empowered by n majority OF the vote,
OF each OF the delegations to pass pri.
vate bill legislation affecting both the
included and excluded areas: to rec
ommend to the Crown the extension tt
the excluded a rea by an Order In Coun
ell OF any act OF the irish Parliament
to agree to the inclusion under tn,
homo rule act OF the whole OF ireland
subject to tine assent OF n majority o.
powers to be vested In the Crown II
that case to extend the act to all O
Ireland by an Order In Council; I.
make recommendations on IT'S own INF
tiativ9 upon the Irish question, includ
ing the amendment of the home rul,
act as finally passed. The president o
this Council of Ireland would b,
elected by agreement between the dele
cations. or In default of agreemen
would be nominated by the Crown.
Would Revive Industry.
"Thirdly-The letter says that the finan
cial proposals Of the home rule bill ar,
unsatisfactory and should be recon
sldered. Important objects. such a
the development Of Irish industries
Improvement in town housing and tn
furtherance of education, with In
creased. pay for teachers, owing to tn
war conditions. It declares. cannot b
dealt with under the bill without un
due burden on tho Irish taxpayers.
"Fourthly The Government woul
recommend that after the second read
ing Of the bill embodying the abov
proposals. together with the home rul
act. It should forthwith be CONSIDERS
by a conference to he constituted OF
the lines of the Speakers conferenc
| on electoral REFORM, tnOuRn not COn
sisting exclusively Of members Of Par
lament, and meeting under the chair
manship Of some one commanding tn
same general confidence in his i'm
partially and judgment as MI
Speaker himself.
'The Government feel that a Pre-
posai which provides for immediat
home rule for the greater part Of Ire
land. while excluding that part OF Ire
land which objects to coming under III
home rule act for defnite period. whe
Parliament will consider the matte
afresh; which recognizes the profoun
sentiment existing in Ireland for th
unity Of the country by creating a con
mon council to consider Irish affairs a
q whole, and which finally sets up
representative conference TO attempt I
adjust the most difficult questions In
voived, Ia as far as they can possibl
20 toward effecting Q legislative settl,
ment in the crisis Of a great war. The
are prepared to introduce a bill O
these lines.
Acceptance IL Asked.
"But they feel It would be idle, and
am sure you will agree with them. to 1,
troduce such a bill unless II were a,
sured Of something like a second readir
acceptance from both Irish parties
sincerely hope that II the Governme,
Introduce this bill the party of whie
YOU are the head will give this measul
| Of support to the proposals, which W!
'osssssssd on SvtA Ras~