New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-13

Marquis of Londonderry, the Duke of
Afa,bercorn, Colonel Robert Gordon
Sharman- Crawford and James John
ston, Lord Mayor of Belfast.
Inc delegation finds itself unable to
concur in the chairman's draft REPORT
ana protests against the latter's i'm
pllcatlon that measure of agreement
regarding the measure of Irish self
government was attained. 1t states
That upon the fundamental issues no
agreement. was at any time visible.
On many important questions the Ma
'lonailsts were sharply divided.
hiter reviewing the reasons for the
says: p0-
!, we expected that the real work of
me convention would have been direct
ca toward sincere and patriotic en-.
oeavor 10 ind common ground some
where between the act of 1914. on the
one hand, and the views of Ulster on
the other. From the first week we
Urged TINS course and repeatedly ex
pressed our disappointment that al
i i;iost every Natlonalist's speech out
Nhed form of Home Rule far in nd.
vance OF any previous claim.
Nationalists' Demands
Inc scheme finally brought forward
py tne BISHOP of Raphoe, in behalf of
demands: o Ao14o"lhs
:. "First--A sovereign independen+ mr.
lament for Ireland, co-euual in no r
and authority with the imperial narl;s.
ment. PAL ma
"Second-Complete fiscal autonomy
Tor ireland, including the power of inn
posing tariffs and control of the excise
INVOLVING, as it would the risk of hos,
tile tariffs against Great Britain. the
right OF making commercial treaties
with foreign countries and full powers
of direct taxation.
"Ihlrd-The right to raise and main
tain military territorial force in Ire
land
>. Observation-Disclosures of any liabil-
ity for national debt, on the plea of
overtaxation in Ireland in the past,
but admitting the principle. of a small
annual contribution to the imperial ex-
penditure.
"Fifth-Denial of the right Of the
imperial parliament to impose military
service in Ireland, unless with the con-
sent of the Irish parliament.
over the fiscal question:" the report
ment was possible, and the real object
Of the proposals was clearly apparent
in the official reply to questions by the
chairman, signed by Mr.. Redmond, the
Bishop of Raphoe, Mr.. Devlin and
George Russell. in which they emphati-
cally insisted upon their demand for
fiscal independence and crystallized
their arguments ip the following terms {:
cove regard Ireland as a nation of
economic unity. government does
not exist where those nominally in
| trusted with the affairs of government
have not control of the fiscal and eco
nomc policy"
The report declares in opposition to
this demand for fiscal independence {:
"Ulster takes a firm stand on the basis
OF the peoples common prosperity and
maintains that the fiscal unity of the
United Kingdom must be preserved in
tact, carrying with it, as it does, the
sovereignty of the imperial Parliament
and due representation therein"
The report points out that while Ire
lands contribution to imperial txation
for the current year was about 413,-
900 900, an important section of the Ma
tionalists opposed any contribution, but
the majority favored contribution
ranging from 92,500,O00 to f4,5OO,OOO
yearly. The Bishop Of Raphoes fifth
proposal was supported by a majority
vote of the convention.
Constabulary Plan Dangerous
The report continues:
1--WE regard as excessively dangerous
the Nationalist claim that the Irish
constabulary shall come under the con-
troll of the Irish Parliament at the end
of the war instead of remaining under
imperial control for six years, as pro-
vided in the 1914 act.
Failing any evidence of an approach
to the narrowing of our differences
and in view Of the new demands of the
Nationalists, we were finally forced to
declare that Ulster is unable to par
ticipate in any scheme of self-govern-
ment for Ireland. We cannot over
look the strong probability that the
controlling force of such would to-day
be the republican, or Sim Fen, party
which is openly and aggrcssively hos
tile to Great Britain and the empire.
"A proposal was brought forward
under which in the Irish Parliament
the Unionists should have temporary
representation largely in excess of
what they were entitled to on a popu-
lation basis. While approaching the
spirit of the offer, it was felt, after
full consideration, that the undemo.
cratic character of the proposal rem.
dercd it wholly unacceptable.
The report shows that the Unionists
with the object of meeting the Nation
alists, presented an alternative scheme
for the exclusion of Ulster based on
lines agreed to by the official Nation
alist party 1916, and continues:
"The discussions proved beyond
doubt that the aim Of the Nationalist
is to establish al Parliament in Ireland
which would be practically free from
effective control by the imperial par
lament.
ut is only necessary to draw atten-
ton to modern political movements
to realize the unwisdom of establishing
within the United Kingdom two par
liaments having co-equal powers. All
other countries have fought against
this disintegration policy"
Declaring that the Nationalist
policy would be a constant menace t.
the empire, the report continues:
Had We thought that a majority of
the convention intended to demand not
the subordinate powers of previous
Homo Rule bills, but what is tanta.
mount to full national independence
we would not have agreed to enter the
convention"