New-York tribune., 1918-06-26
Carson Scores Plan
To Postpone Irish
Home Rule and Draft
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By Arthur S. Draper
(specia, Cable to The Tribune }

Copyright. 1915. by Tic Tribune Associationj
LONDON, June 25.--Thc Irish de-
bate in the House of Commons to-day
emphasized the general dissatisfaction
with the governments decision to
abandon. or ut least to postpone, con-
scription and Home Rule.
AS the Nationalists did not attend
Ireland was Sir Edward Carson, who
handled Chief Secretary Shortt's
policy far from gently
Sir Edward declared that the gov
ernment had capitulated to the Roman
Catholic hierarchy on the question Of
conscription, that whatever had been
said to the contrary, Home Rule and
conscription were being used one
against the other; that the Premier
had broken the party political truce;
that the present system OF volunteer
enlistment was entirely unfair to Brit
ain; that it would not work in Ireland,
volunteers must be followed by SINH
lar grants to soldiers in all parts OF the
empire,
Belittles Shortt's Evidence
The Ulster leader took little stock in
the evidence which Short produced to
Justify the arrest Of the Sim Fem
pamphlet supposed to have been writ
ten and distributed as German propa
ganda back in 1911; of several poems
of recent date, including "Ireland to
Germany" and "Ireland's Overture to
Germany" expressing hatred of Eng
land and sympathy with Germany; of
certain handbills written in pencil and
distributed surreptitiously, in which
instructions were given in case of Ger
man invasion; of various speeches
made by Sim Fein leaders in private,
and of q letter from one Sim Feiner
to another telling him to remember
that certain things not mentioned in
the letter would happen two months
after the beginning of the German Of
fensive.
Shortt declared that Germany had
succeeded in getting messages into and
out OF Ireland and that the boat from
which the prisoners landed in Ireland
was of German manufacture.
Lord WlmbOrne, who a few iays back
declared that he was not aware of any
evidence justifying the sudden action
OF the government, listened to to-day's
debate. Sir Edward professed to see
reasons for the governments reversal
OF decision other than the fear of a
German plot in Ireland.
Short made it clear that he believed
only an extremely small percentage Of
lrlshmen were involved. Sir Mark
Sykes warned the government against
allowing Irish affairs to drift.
Lloyd George Defends Delay
Lloyd George, who sat through tho
long debate and heard the bitter at
tack from Carson on his old colleague
IN the government, made a long defence
OF his policy. His action, he said, was
ulctated by the advice of Lord French
and OF Chief Secretary Short, who be-
leved that conscription was incppor-
tune until after it was possible to en-
force the law throughout the whole of
Ireland.
He also charged the Roman Catholic
hierarchy with associating itself with
interests determined to challenge the
supremacy OF the imperial government
could be remedied, the Premier de-
clared, it would be impossible to legis-
late as far as Ireland was concerned.
lie thought that a settlement in Ire
land during the war was among the
possibilities.
Asquith, who followed Lloyd George.
gave review of recent Irish history
and declared that Home Rule and con-
scrlptlon were not part and parcel of
single coherent policy. Other speak
ers included Messrs. Mexican, King
and Pringle, the latter declaring that
the government ignored the National
lists when considering the advisability
Of introducing conscription in Ireland.
Whether the debate helped not only
Ireland, but the general situation, it
is too early to say. 1t was perfectly
plain in Parliament this evening that
there is considerable BODY hostile
to the governments policy.
The fact that English fathers are be-
ing conscripted while Irish boys are
being invited to join the army has
made Ireland very live subject Just
now. Then the effect of the postpone
ment of home rule in the Dominions
and in America is not lost sight of.
The Nationalists are expected to re-
turn to Parliament next week, aud il
is likely that the Irish Representatives
VIII attempt to form political coali-