New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-19
A Divided Ireland
Why the Delay of Home Rule Is Not
Due to English Obduracy
To tho Editor of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: Your editorial on the Irish crisis
seems to have dspleased several Of your cor
respondents. There are Americans to-day
who cannot forget the England OF George
III. Similarly the South Of Ireland cannot
forget the England of Cromwells time. En-
lightened Americans and enlightened Irish
men know that England of to-day is vastly
different and Ireland of to-day participates
in the same laws and justice that prevail IN
all parts of Great Britain. lrishmen, the
Nationalist in Parliament. help to frame
not only their own laws, but those also IN
England. The old age pension, the health
insurance acts. etc, are as much IN effect IN
Ireland as in England, Scotland and Wales.
Nevertheless. as a democracy, England is
anxious that Ireland should have Home Rule
if she wishes it. When Canada, Australia
and South Africa were ready for self-govern-
ment their people were unanimous, and not
only was self-government granted these colo
MES but every assistance was given them TO
make il success. Ireland, unfortunately for
her. is not unanimous. The northeast OF
Ulster says, Decidedly no, We insist upon
being governed by England and represented
in the London Parliament"
Before the European war started Ulster
went SO far as to say 20 England We Will
fight you if you attempt to coerce US into
accepting Home Rule" to which the leaders
of the Nationalist party responded to Eng
land, I'VE will fight you if you do not COM
pei Ulster 20 accept Home Rule" Thus the
Engishman was between the devil and the
deep sea. I'VE will fight you if you do
said Ulster I'VE will fight you if you don't
said the Nationalists. No compromise on
either side was apparently acceptable, and
whichever way England decided she faced
fight and in either case civil war.
The matter has been hanging fire since
August, 1914, and in spirit OF generous
compromise Mr.. Lloyd George now offers
Home Rule to that part of Ireland that de-
mands it. to take effect at once. Ulster still
vigorously refusing TO entertain severance
from the English government is offered the
option of joining the South Of Ireland in its
Home Rule whenever she wishes it. To the
logical mind this would seem to be fair
proposal, but not so to the Nationalists and
Sim Feiners. Ulster is apparently willing
to accept this very fair and judicial arrange
ment. but the Home Rulers insist that If
Ulster refuses she should be coerced. That
can only mean that in the midst of the
present world crisis, when Great Britain
needs every man 10 defend herself and her
allies. and incidentally to protect Ireland,
she would have to withdraw her present
troops from France to fight Clstermen for
the crime of wanting TO be loyal.
This obvious Inconsistency is so truly alb
surd that the situation is apparently only
comprehensive to Irshmen; no other nation
can possibly fathom such logic. England
would prefer Ireland to have Home Rule, and
If Irishmen will only make up their minds TO
agree among themselves the whole matter is
ready for immediate settlement.
Will Irishmen ever agree? That IS the
question that is pulling England and Amer
lea. and none OF your correspondents seems
to be able to offer any solution.
To sum up the situation, Irishmen in this
country must realize that England actually
has offered immediate Home Rule TO the
whole of Ireland if all Irishmen will accept
it, II is now up 10 Ireland.
L. II. LIVINGSTONE.
New York. March Il, 1917.