The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-13
Majority Report Urging
Quick Creation of Parlia-
mcnt Is Submitted.
AUTONOMY BASIS LAID
Senate and House to Have
Virtually. Full Legisla-
tive Powers.
WILL NOT FIX DUTIES
Cannot Make War or Peace
Forty Seats in Commons
for Ulsterites.
WILL NOT FIX DUTIES

toprr'ohf. 1sls; Az rights rsserrsd.
LONDON. April 1.-THE difficulties O.
the Irish convention report. the pro
ceedinss Of which are Just made public
and the basis Of the nome rule meas
which the Government is expected tc
anhounce soon. are summed up by Slr
Horace Plunkett. the conventions chair.
man, in these words: "Clster and the
,ustoms.''
In hts opinion, apart from the imme.
diaie results In Parliament which may
foiiow the presentation Of the report
nc greatest work accomplished by the
convention has been the smoothing away
- the obstacles which heretofore have
always stood In the way OF the posi-.
hility Of reaching an agreement on home
lule for ireland.
The members Of the convention came
together with an honest desire to clear
away the difhculties IL possible, and
while they were unable to reach a
unanimous basis for the solution OF the
question great step forward has haen
iaksn which paves the way for future
negotiations with -eistsr. ----''
Friendly spirit shown.
spirit Of tho greatest frieniliness
U IL
ION. and while the situation at times
'ooked absolutely hopeless every mem
Ger was inspired by the determination
TO eliminate as many causes Of differ
snce as possible. with the idea that If a
s0ution were not reached the convention
a. least would leave the Irish question
IN better shape than It had found it,
The draft Of the report OF the con-
'enfion. which was adopted by a ma
,ority vote. contains the scheme for the
establishment OF a Parliament for the
whole Of Ireland. with an executive re-
sponsible TO 1t. and with full powers
over all internal legislation, sdministra-
on and direct taxation. II provides
i.at the imposition OF customs and en-
c.se duties shall remain with the I'M
perial Parliament pending a final de-
sion on the fiscal question. hut that the
whole proceeds OF these taxes shall be
raid into the Irish exchequer.
joint excheQuer board Is to be set
~ 10 determine the exact revenue Of
Ireland, and Ireland is to be represented
Apon the board Of excise and customs Of
nc United Kingdom. Irish representa-
t'es in the Imperial Parliament are to
elected by the Irish Parliament. in
stead Of directly by the constituencies
II i accepted In principle that there
'-'-'''' ~" lrlS'l tOUtTIDutlOn 10 tlo
cost o' imperial services, but a definite
sum is not nxed. owing to the lack Of
data
ConstitutiOn of Parliament.
TIE Irish Parliament is to consist OF
'wo houses, Senate of sixty-four MEM
ners and House of Commons OF 200.
As - their membership the composition
OF the Senate Is based upon the prin-
c'pie "f representation OF interests,
which 's accomplished by giving repre-
ssh'a'lon 10 commerce. industry. labor,
oun;y councils. churches. learned tn
>ItIi!ors and the peerage.
As to ;he membership Of the House Of
commons the report says:
In instsu,ing the House OF Commons
20 Natlonalists offer to guarantee 40
peF cent. of its membership to the
thio"!sts, N is agreed that in the
>oltA adequate representation for the
lh'onists could lie secured only by
t9n.nat!on. but as the Ulster represen-
,at!ves had informed the convention
'Ha' 'Aose for whom they spoke could
'o' accept the principle OF nomination
provision ls made for an extra repre-
'er tdtion Of Ulster by direct election"
IN addition 20 the report OF Sir Horace
F'unHeit the Ulster Ur!onists and mi
tor'ty Natonalists also submitted re-
rC-'S