Evening star., 1918-04-13
Most Promising Situation.

ness for all classes. Never before has
there been such promising SITUATION
| for the introduction of self-governmeht
in ireland, Then came this tax re-
snonsibility on the government in con-
nection with the war. They had taken
the decision not light-heartedly. nor
in any spirit of antagonism to Ireiaha.
but because it was their inexoraoie
| duty to decide that Ireland snoulG con
tribute her share to the fighting"
"a governments first duty" he con
tfnued. was the defense of the state
Ireland was an integral part OF the
United Kingdom and the government
was the only authority which could de-
eide what ireland must do. At the
same time 1t would be the worst dis
service to the state to call into tne
ranks men suffering under a historic
sense Of grievance. The government
wished to remove this sense OF griey-
ance and sought to help the house and
country In believing there would pc an
overwhelming force of opinion in favoi
of f-government. Nothing couic
please them better than q parliamen,
IrLshmen went TO the colors.'
He was not without hope when the
men of Ireland saw that the govern
ment was resolved to settle the lrish
question and that it opened to them Q
part in the defense of the empire they
would again rally to the sacred cause
as in 1914.
Henderson Warns Government.
Arthur Henderson, leader of the labor
/ party. warned the government that II
was displaying more reckless courage
than wisdom In stalking its existence on
the clause applying conscriptfon to Ire
land Unless the government was pre-
pared to modify its proposals it was
creating Q situation which contained all
the elements of the greatest disaster
which had hefallen the country in the
The governments present proposals.
he declared. would place Sinn Feintsm
Ia the ascsndancy in Ireland, as they
had placed nol:h'vi.m in n,n,s.ns the ascend. ,S.
goyernment could DO was to say frank
" that 1t would not make the clause
operative until home rule absolutely
was the law In ireland.
When the house In committee of the
whole this afternoon reached the clause
In the man-powey bill extending con-
scription to Ireland James c. r. Lard
ner. nationalist for North Monaghan.
moved that the bill should not be on
forced with regard 70 ireland untN the
passage of q resolution by the Irish
lrsriaansnt sppferans ie = = 49, = .t1 = :
County cIiaS Axmsd Camp.
To-day" he said, County Clare IL an
armed camp, and what Glare 10 today
the rest of Ireland would be tomor-
row II the govsrnnsnt went on with
Eventually. Mr.. Lardner's motion was
rejected, $50 to los.
Mr.. AsQuith suggested that inasmuch
~ It would take soma weeks after the
bill was passed to undertake the pre-
|liminary work connected with con-
scription In Ireland. the Interval should
be occupied in passing through both
houses q bill based on the report OF thf
irish convention. BY that course the
prolongatton OF the unhappy contro-
varsy would be prevented.
Mr.. Asqufth again appealed to the
government TO omit the clause on con.
scription. II these were normal times
he said. he would not heAitate to taks
appropriate parliamentary action te
give effect TO his opposition to ths
| clause, but "it, would be criminal tf
blind our eyes to the extent Of the peri
at this moment
'r could not be Q party to any pro.
ceeding In the house." be added, '1eGiti.
mate insnormal conditions, whdeh, II Il
succeeded, must have the effect Of pre-,
vention on those who for the time be.
| ing are Responsible to the nation ant
| to the allies for extricating the great.
est of causes from the greatest o,
| perils.
When every moment of their time
| every faculty of their mind and ever,
| fiber of their being needs to be devoted
to saving from disaster the allies
| cause, l cannot take that responsible
ty"