The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-04-10
PRICE FOR HOME
RULE IN IRELAND
IS CONSUMPTION
Lloyd George Couples Two
Possibilities in Talk
to Commons.
ATTITUDE OF IRISH
REMAINS UNCERTAIN
Declares War Crisis Makes
Necessary Compulsory
Service in Army.

London, April 9.--David LLOYD
George. the British prime minister. TO-
day made the boldest stroke Of his
career by coupling home rule for ire
land with the conscrptIon OF Irlehuen.
This unexpected disclosure in an ad.
dress by the premier in the house OF
commons In presenting the new con.
scription bill to parliament swept aside
all interest in the details OF tho con-
scription scheme which already had
been forecast by the newspapers.
Ireland IL the only subject talked OF
tonight. The only question asked II
how will the Irish parties ana their
British sympathizers take the new
policy.
Skeptioism Prevails.
The first impression was skeptlciam
az to whether the war cabinet could
frame n measure which would stand
that test and the fear that tho country
might be plunged again into the old
fury Of the Irish quarrel while fightinE
for Its life against enemies outside In
walls. II was because Of this fear that
the Asauith government shelved the
old home rule act and the Nationaliats
have blamed that shelving for the fall
ure Of more 1rishmen to enlist.
Mr.. Lloyd George. however, II dar-
ing enough to attempt to balance both
debts by granting home rule and en-
forcing conacription.
Success Not rsshadovsd.
The atmosphere in the house OF
commons did not foreshadow ss1ccsss.
From his first sentence on Ireland. the
premier was assailed with what Rout-
| els correspondent describes NJ 'sF,ln-
ming hostile comment from the Irish
benches"
The new Nationalist leader, John
Dillon, who is more typical OF the fiery
old time Irish resisters than His court
| ~ predecessor. the late John Redmond,
heartily denounced conscription for
ireland. Nor were there any siKns Of
conciliation from the Ulster fAction.
| The Irish unionists met under tho
| craftsmanship Of Sir Edward Cayon
| ard resolved to support conscription.
but they were merely endorsing what
has been one Of the planks In their
| platform.
Country Demands Settlement.
| It is felt generally that there ID q
greater and stronger force In tho
country than any operating in the
house of commons. That Ii public
opinion which apparently demands that
Irish questions shall not stand In tho
way OF winning the war
Mr.. Lloyd Georges speech revealed
that the irish convention had not
reached any agreement and that the
| constructive work must be done by tho
| cabinet. guided somewhat by Irish
| opinion AZ revealed In the debates Of
the convention.
The most important statement in
the premiers speech apart from Ire
land was that General Foch had been
appointed supreme director Of the
strategy of the allied armies on the
western front, which Is taken to mean
he has superseded the Versailles war
lcOuncii
Premier Lloyd George said in part:
Critical Period Of War.
I'VE have now entered the most criti-
cal phase OF this terrible war. There
is lull in the storm, but the hurri-
cane is not over.
| Doubtless we must expect more
fierce outbreaks, and ere 1t in finally
exhausted there will be many more.
| The fate of the empire, the fate of
Europe and the fate Of liberty through
out the world may depend on tho sue
cess with which the very last OF these
attacks is resisted and countered.
The government, therefore. proposes
to submit to parliament today certain
recommendations in order to a1gtot
this country and the allies to weather
the storm. They will involve. regret,
! extreme sacrifices on the part OF large
classes of the population, and nothing
} would justify them but the most ex-
treme necessity and the fact that w
are fighting for all that is essential aud
most sacred in cur national life.
Thinss to Avoid.
Il now come to the circumstances,
| which have led TO the present militas,
position. 1t il very difficult at THU
time to present clear, connected ans
reliable narrative OF what happened
There has been great battle On
front of SO miles greatest hnttf
! ever fought in the history Of the woea1
/ Enormous forces have hecn engaaSl1
there was consifieeable retirement q
the part Of the British fnrceA, and u
I der these Conditions Il is not alway,
Continued ea Page Tl1S11