Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-12
.PLUNKET'T] SAYS
SETTLEMENT
CAN BE MADE
Sir Horace Instructed to
Draft Report Which was
Adopted. &.
CUSTOMS QUESTION
WAS OF IMPORTANCE
Agreed that Ireland Should
Contribute Cost Of I'm
perial Service.

London, April 1.-THE irish con-
vention laid the foundation for m
agreement on the Irish question which
is unprecedented in history, Sir Hor-
ace Plunkett, chairman Of the con-
vention, says in letter accompanying
the report Of that body.
The convention did not dnd It pos
sible to overcome the objections OF
the Ulster unionists, says Sir Horace.
A majority of the nAtonalists, al the
southern unionists and five Of the
seven labor representatives agreed
upon scheme Eof Irish self govern
ment which is given in the conclusions
reached by the majority which. he
states. should be enacted into law.
I'VE had every re1Son to believe
the government Contemplated 1mme-
diate legislation upon the results Of
our labor" says Sir Horace. '.Ths~
Ea<k - a. 1Sashs settiement, 1t IN now
felt, a0fDffs iOf no further postpone
ment. IN the .domipions and the,
United states5as wSii a. the allied
countries. the unsettled Irish question
is.a disturbing factor. both as regards
WAY, effort and peacs aims
After every possibility. Of an agree
ment had been explored, Sir Horace
writes, he was instructed to draft .
report which would be narrative Of
the conventions proceedings, with a
statement for the governments infor-
nation Of the conclusions adopted
unanimous or by ma jority. This
draft Of the report was adopted by q
majority.
Sir Horace adds that the public has
been provided with no majority report
in the sense Of a reasoned statement
in favor OF conclusions upon which the
majority agreed. but has been left to
gather from the narrative Of tho pro-
"a fr0 vyfSo AA &c. 40 -
report would have been. The issue of
| minority reports by the Ulster union
lists and q minority Of nationalists has
minimized the agreement reached and
emphasized the disagreement.
In his letter which Is addressed to
Premier Lloyd George, the chairman
says the customs question became one
decision regarding 1t dependence to
the extent of an agreement which
could be reached. The geographical
situation Of ireland imposed restric-
i tons regarding naval and military
! affairs and the claim for home rule
was concentrated on the demand for
| Unrestricted fiscal powers. The ma
tionalists made strong Case for such
| fiscal powers and were able to prove
that considerable number of the
! leading commercial men had come to
| favor fiscal autonomy.
A majority Of the nationalists and
Of the southern unionists agreed. in
order that a parliament might be
established at once. to postpone the
decIsion in regard to the control Of
the customs. The nationalists were
| prepared to agree to free trades with
England but the southern unionists
Joined the Ulster unionists In oppos-
/ ing q satisfactory system Of customs
control. +
The principle Of representation for
Ireland in the imperial parliament
was insisted upon by the southern
unionists, says Sir Horace, and the
nationahsts conceded it. The Irish
members Of the parliament ut London
!, Under this plan would be eiected by
the Irish parliament
/ II is. agreed that Ireland should
contribute to the cost of the imperial
/ service. The Irish parliament. 1t was
decided, should consist Of two houses
| the nationalistss kulranteeing thlt
forty per. cent OF the lower house
would be composed OF slnionists W z
4 -. =.