New Britain herald., 1917-05-17

to recousl0eroClon by parliament at the end of live years; a council of Ire-
 land, to be composed of two delega- tions. representing the excluded area as we'll as the new Irish parliament, and consideration of the bilI after its second reading by a special confer ence under the chairmanship of some
 one commanding general confidence. As an alternative, 1t is suggested by Irishmen of all parties be assembled for the purpose of arranging a scheme of Irish self-government.
 The PremaeE's Letter.
 MT. Lloyd Georges letter to MT.
 Redmond follows:
 Dear MT. Redmond:-The gov- ernment have been considering for some time what further action they would take to bring about the settle ment of the Irish question. They have approached the subject with deep desire to put an end to a state of affairs which is productive of inn mense 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 it Is impossible for them in the crisis of . war in which our safety and the liberty of most of the nations of Europe is at stake, to take action which would revive a political controversy and so weaken or imperil the unity which is essential to the supreme necessity 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 accepted by both sides.
 ''The desire of tho government has been to try to effect an immediate settlement. conceding the largest pos sible measure of home rule which can be secured by agreement at this mom- ent, without prejudice to the under taking of parliament of a further and nnal settlement of the questions most in dispute after the war. They are therefore prepared to put forward proposals on the following lines with q view to present action:
 "Firstly-They would introduce q bill for the immediate application of the home rule to Ireland. but exclud- ing therefronl the six counties north east of Ulster such exclusion to be subject to reconsideration by parlia- ment at tho end Of five years, unless 1t is previously terminated by the action of the council of Ireland, to be set up as hereinafter described.
 ''Secondly, with view to securing the largest possible measure of com mon action for the whole of Ireland, the bill would provide council for Ireland. to be composed of two dele- gations consisting on the one hand of all members returned to Westminster from the excluded area, and on the other hand of a delegation equal in \ numbers from the Irish parliament. this council to be summoned on the initiative of any six. members. It would be empowered by a majority of the votes of each of the delega- tions to pass private bill legislation affecting both the included and ex- cluded areas: to recommend to the crown the extension to the excluded area. by an order in council, of any act of the Irish parliament; to agree to the inclusion under the homo rule act Of the whole of Ireland. subject to the asAent of a majority of the voters in tho excluded areas, the powers to be vested in the crown in that case to extend the act to all of Ireland by an order in council; to make recommendations on its own ini- tiative upon the Irish question, in- cluding the amendment of the home rule act as finally passed. The presi- don't of this council of Ireland would be elected by agreement between the delegations or in default of agree ment would be nominated by the crown
 Thirdly the letter says that the fi- nancial- proposals of the home rule bill arc unsatisfactory and should be reconsidered. Important objects. such as the development of Irish in- dustries, improvement in town hous- ing and the furtherance of education, with increased pay for teachers ow- ing to the war conditions, 1t declares, cannot be dealt with under the bill without undue burden on the Irish taxpayers.
 '.Fourthly-The government would recommend that after the second reading of bill embodying the above proposals, together with the home rule act, 1t should forthwith be con- sidered by q conference to be con stftu+ad on the lines of the Shea rer,a