The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1917-11-17
The IRISH CONVENTION
ITS GRAND COMMITTEE TO
DRAFT SCHEME OF Gov
ERNMENT.

Many Plans Have Been Discussed In
the General Body-Lord Monteagle's
Letter Reviewing the Political and
Economic Problems-Dominlon and
Provincial Plans Under Debate.
! The following letter appeared in the
Irish Independent" of Oct. 10:
| pleaded a fortnight ago for "the
maximum of publicity consistent with
efficiency on the part of the conven-
ton as the best preventative of sus-
plclon on the one hand and impatience
on the other; and l suggested an in
term report explaining at any rate
the procedure adopted. l wrote in no
spirit of idle curiosity, still less with
any desire to hustle the convention.
sought to promote no criticism of
its proceedings. properly forbidden by
ID. O. r. A, but confidence in it's pur-
pose and good faith; to evoke not envy
or strife, but healthy discussion of the
great issues committed to its DELHI
GRAFTON.
OF such discussion there has been
| too little since the convention met,
possibly under the mistaken idea that
this, too, is forbidden under the
Realm Act" whereas, of course, all
that was intended was to make the
| convention master of it's own public
ity department. No outsider can
judge the pros and cons of what to
publish and when, and l will only add
one remark on this confidence ques-
ton. l would beg of all it's members
to remember that as between them
and the public, confidence must be mu-
tual, and that theh convention must at
every stage take the initiative.
History Of the Convention.
The history of the convention, as
known to the public so far, may be
summarized as follows:
CD 1t elected it's own chairman-an
freshman singularly detached from any
party ties. The vital Importance of
this is now clear to ALL as making the
convention Independent of the British
government, and the wisdom of the
government for once in allowing it is
appreciated.
(2) Two months have been spent
in settling procedure, point almost
equally vital with the craftsmanship,
and on which the continued existence
OF such a body as the convention es-
sentially depends, and in debating va
rious schemes of government
6 A grand committee has been
chosen, as announced, in a resolution
passed at the Cork session, to draw up
and submit it's own scheme, having
heard all the others thrashed out in
full assembly.
A Good Omen.
Pessimists may say these are small
results for two months work, but even
if the latter were the only result,
which we may be sure it is not, it is
no mean achievement. The art of gov
eminent turns largely on wise dele
cation, and for democracy this is the
first essential lesson-how difficult to
learn we have only to look at Russia
to see.
1t is great point gained and a
good omen that the convention has
learned it so soon, and entrusted the
preparation of definite scheme to
score or so of it's best men. Is it per-
MISSILE to suggest that we might be
told who they are? Would such pub
licity impair efficiency? 1t would GER
tainly beget confidence even if criti-
cism were forbidden.
BEST for Ireland"
And now word or two on the grand
committees fateful task 1t is surely
desirable that public attention should
be directed to the main points at is
sue so as to prepare peoples minds
to see the different points in their true
perspective when the convention pro-
nounces on the grand committees
scheme. Within the limits of letter
one can only indicate briefly such
points and the order of their sequence.
But before doing so l venture to lay
down one axiom which should govern
all study of the subject. | submit
that subject to the one condition laid
down by Mr.. Lloyd George that the
scheme should be within the EN-
approached by us from a frankly Irish
standpoint. But there may very we'll
be differences between what we Irish
think true Imperial interests and what
are so considered across the Channel;
and there certainly will be such diff
ferences as between British and Irish
interests. These must be settled be-
tween the two countries by some joint
conference if the convention evolves
scheme. 1t is not the business of
the convention to safeguard purely
British interests. It's business is to
ask, What is best for Ireland?"
Minority Safenuarda