The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1918-04-27

but admitting the principle of small
annual contribution to the Imperial
exchequer.
"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 re-
port continues, mo approach to an
agreement was possible, and the real
object of the proposals was clearly
apparent in the official reply to ques-
tons by the chairman signed by Mr..
Redmond, the bishop of Raphoe, Mr..
Devlin and George Russell, in which
they emphatically insisted upon their
demand for fiscal independence and
crystallized their arguments in the fol-
lowing terms:
Fiscal independence.
I'VE regard Ireland as a nation on
economic unity. Self-government does
not exist where those nominally en-
trusted with the affairs of government
have not control of the fiscal and eco
onomic policy"
The report declares in opposition to
this demand for fiscal Independence:
ulster takes a firm stand on the
basis of the peoples common prosper
ity and maintains that the fiscal unity
of the United Kingdom must be pre-
served intact, 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 taxa
ton for the current year was about
6 13,O00,OOO, an important section of
the Nationalist opposed any contribu-
ton, but the majority favored con-
tribution ranging from G2,5000O0 to
G4,5O0,0OO yearly. The bishop of Rap
hoes fifth proposal was supported by
majority vote of the convention.
The report continues:
I'VE regard as excessively danger
GUS the Nationalist claim that Irish
constabulary shall come under the
control of the Irish parliament at the
end of the war instead of remaining
under Imperial control for six years,
as PROVIDED III the 1914 act.
Ulster Cannot Participate.
Failing any evidence of all APP
proach to the narrowing of our diff
ferences and in view of the new de.
mands of the Nationalist, we were
finally forced to declare that Ulster
is unable to participate in any scheme
of self-government for Ireland We
cannot overlook the strong probable
ity that the controlling force of such
today would be the republican, or Sim
Fein party, which is openly and ag-
gressively hostile 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. 1t was felt, after
full consideration, that the undemo.
cratic character of the proposal rem.
dered it wholly unacceptable"
The report shows that the Union
lists, with the object of meeting tho
Nationalist, presented an alternative
scheme for the exclusion of Ulster
gased on lines agreed to by the official
Nationalist party in 1916, and con-
tinues:
THE discussions proved beyond
doubt that the aim of the NatiOnalists
is to establish parliament in Ireland
which would be practically free from
effective control by the Imperial par
lament. 1t is only necessary to draw
attention to modern political move
ments to realize the unwisdom of es.
tablishing within the United Kingdom
two parliaments having co-equal pow
ers, all other countries having fought
against this disintegration policy"
The Kaiser Gas he faced the final
i Fundamentally one regret is that
didn't have another million lives to
offer for nv country Life