Evening star., 1918-06-26
Makes Partisan Speech.

Sir EQ"arQ carson, Ine UlSter iedQ-
er, made a strong partisan speech.
contrasting the loyalty of Ulster with
the rebellion in south Ireland. He
criticised tho governments offer of
land to Irish recruits, holding that If
Irishmen were to be bribed to fight,
similar rewards must be given to all
soldiers Of the empire and their de-
pendents.
Premier Lloyd George laid stress on
the difficulties the Irish troubles were
causing the American government, as
well as the British government.
Altogether it was the tamest Irish
debate of years, largely on account of
the absence of the Irish nationalist
members from the House. Sir Robert
Borden. the Canadian premier. and
Str Horace Plunkett, chairman of the
recent Irish convention, watched the
proceedings from the gallery.
The premier said he did not believe
to. carry through measure of home
rule for Ireland which would deal
Justly and equitably with the legiti-
mate objections of large part of the
Irish community.
Dealing with the evidence on the
was the same evidence that was adj
duced in 1915. 1t was lost for some
time and then recovered. The gov
ernment realized the Significance Of
what was going on. It would be quite
impossible to publish the character
of the evidence. but there was no
doubt In the mind of any one who had
examined 1t that there existed a very
serious conspiracy in which powerful
people In Ireland were engaged in an
effort to subvert British rule in Ire
land.
The allies were fighting for the
principle for which Ireland has strug-
gled. he said, and he hoped Ireland
was prepared voluntarily to take her
share in the struggle at any time. 1t
was the duty of the government first
of all, before 1t took any further ac.
ton in the matter. to See that Ire
land had the opportunity of entering
the struggle voluntarily.
Hun Plot in Ireland Real Danger.
Edward Shortt. chief secretary for
Ireland. said he hoped to satisfy the
house that the German plot in Ireland
was real and imminent danger to
this country. He said he was satisfied
that both the clergy and the national
lists had used their influence. respec.
lively. to assist in keeping the peace.
Secretary Shortt said the govern
ment had found that Germany was
in touch with Ireland, and that not
only were messages going to Ireland
from German source. but that they
were going from Irish sources to Ger
many.
Mr. Shortt said the government
knew that in certain port of Ger
many large amount of ammunition
was loaded into a German submarine,
and that, moreover. submarines had
been seen in localities where the
destruction of shipping could not
have been their object
Mr.. Shortt said that since the pre-
mfer had announced the governments
policy with regard to Ireland circum-
stances had entirely changed, there
being two main causes for the change.
The first and most far-reachine cause.
he said. was the discovery of a Ger
man plot In Ireland. In addition.
there was the fact that the feeling
in Ireland was against conscription.
and the movement which necessarily
followed that feeling had been used
by the extremists in physical move
ment in conjunction with the GER
man plot.
The speaker said he did not for a
moment say that any substantial pro-
portion. of those in ireland who were
opposed to conscription had any
knowledge that they were being used
to further a German plot.