The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-04-13
Convention Submits Plan That
Will Make Political Har-
mony Possible
PARLIAMENT LIKE EMPIRE
Would Not Diminish Empires
Authority; Executive With
Powers Provided.

for eight months considering tne prop
lens besetting the island, have submit
ted TO the British parliament, plan
which while not the unanimous decis-
ion of the convention, represents
basis for agreement on some of the
questions that in the past have pre-.
vented all the parties Of Ireland from
acting in harmony
The plan calls for an Irish parlia-
ment modelled after that Of the EN-
pire, the authority of which would not
be diminished. An executive respon-
sible to it and wit full powers over
internal legislation, administration and
direct taxation, also is provided.
To meet with objections from union
lists, it is agreed that forty percent
representation in the proposed par
lament will be guaranteed them by
the dominant natiOnalists. Provision
also is made for extra representation
from Ulster.
Minority reports were submitted by
the Ulster uniOnists and the minority
faction of the nationalists.
The Irish convention failed to agree
upOn a scheme OF self government for
Ireland, but laid foundation for an
agreement unprecedented in history,
Sir Horace Plunkett, chairman of the
convention says in Letter to the
prime minister, transmitting report
of the proceedings Of that body. "A
larger measure OF agreements have
been reached upon the principle and
details OF Irish self government ho
declares, than has ever yet been at
tained.'
It was not found possible, Sir Hor-
ace explains, to overcome the objec-
lions of the Ulsterites. The majority
of the natiOnalists, all southern union
lists and five out of seven labor rep
resentatives, however, agreed that the
scheme set out in the report should
be Immediately enacted into law
Ulster, Commons, Difficulties
The difficulties Of the convention,
says the chairman may be summed up
in two words, ulster and customs
the latter referring to demand OF
the nationalisits for unrestricted lis
cal powers. To this demand the cou-
thern unionists as we'll as the ulster
unionists would not agree. but the
southern unionists and the national
lists were willing. in order that an
Irish parliament be established, to
postpone legislative decision on the
question.
II recognize writes Sir Horace.
that action in parliament on the re-
suit of our deliberations must largely
depend upon public opinion, adding
"that the work of an Irish settlement
is now felt to admit OF no further
postpOnement In the dominons ana
the United States as we'll as the other
allied countries, the unsettled Irish
question is disturbing factor both
az regards to war efforts and peace
aims"
Scheme of Majority.
The scheme of the majority as de,
scribed in the chairman,s letter pro
yides for esta Adjustment OF parlla
ment for the whole of Ireland with an
executive responsible to it and will,
full powers over all internal legisla
ton. administration and direct taxa
ton. Pending decision OF the f1scaI
+, question, it is provided that imposl
ton of duties and excise shall remain
with the imperial parliament. but that
the whole OF the proceeds OF thes
taxes shall be paid to the Irish eN
cheuuer. A joint eXchequer board
would be set up to determine the Irish
true revenue and Ireland would be re
presented upon the board of customs
and excise of the united kingdom
Irish representatives in the imperla
narliament would be elected by the
irish parliament instead Of directly by
constituencies
Parliamen! and Commons.
The Irish parliament would consist
OF a senate of GA members and house
of commons of 200 The principle
underlying the composition of the
senate is representation OF interests
style for us to facilitate, and the snip:
III this maritime nation accordingly lag
idle for many months and until the
conclusion on January %, 1918 Of the
temporary shipping agreement whlct
was proposed by the Netherlands com
missiOners at London and accepted by
the United States as measure to re
store to immediate activity that por
ton of the Netherlands mercantile
fleet lying within our waters.
German Threats Cited
sThe statement says Netherlanc
government seems to imply that this
agreement was in fact lived up to b!
the Netherlands government yet evi
dence to the contrary is found IN the
statement itself which refers to Ger
man objections as having prevented
performance by that government OF
what is enormously referred to as Am
erica's demand, but what was in real
ityT a Netherlands undertaking, tina,
when a Dutch ship left the United
States for the Netherlands cores
Donding Dutch vessels should stimuli
taneously leave the Netherlands 1ol
the United States.
Why Were Steamers Held?
Had not the Netherlands govern
mei,t. under German threats of VIC
fence. which were matter of common
knowledge, felt unable to carry out
the temporary shipping agreement, il
~ inexplainable that the s. ;. sam
arinda and Adonis would not have
sailed for q Dutch port with their car
rOss OF foodstuffs which under thu
agreement the Netherlands was to re
n1lyA md OF which It was asserted
1 be6ltIwere u direct need. In
! sieed. the statement Of the Neither
-, !, EOc l0fxf1ns A6AtIEMx4s