Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-09
PARLIAMENT OF
GREAT BRITAIN
IS EREASSEMBLED
Two Important Questions
Are to be Taken up at
Sessions.

London. April 9--Parliament rcas-
sembles today after the Easter recess
With two. questions of great import
ance upon it's hands. The first is the.
new military service bill which raises
the age limit eight years and makes
those born after a fixed date in the
spring of 1867 liable to bear arms.
The second is another and what prom
ises to be a strong attempt to deal
with the ancient and always conten-
tious problem of government for Ire
land.
Both these issues have been thrust
upon the cabinet during the brief re-
man attacks in France, and the sec
ond by the conclusion of the Irish
convention and the rendering of it's
report which Premier Lloyd George
promised would be followed by legis-
lation.
Premier Lloyd George will make
/ the opening speech and will expound
the military situation which confronts
the nation. Sir Auckland Geddes, di-
rector of recruiting, will outline the
details of the man power bill
The country appears to be unusual
ly united in its Willingness to accept
the recruiting measure which goes
further than the most radical advo-
Gates of conscription talked of dur
: ing the early stages of the war. And
this is with the full realiza ton that
will bring hardships and often finan-
cial shipwreck to many small business
men and families, besides hitting
larger firms whose work is being car
ried on mostly by men over forty,
with youths and with women.
/ Thus far the only signs of opposi-
; ton have been protests against re-
I @,.<.. NOT <io1 inn t<,N ant
, the bill through with brief debate
and that the present recruiting tribun-
ais with their safeguard Of the right
to appeal might be abolished. There
is also demand that the supply of
labor needed by shipyards, farms and
munitions factories shall be assured
and safeguarded. -
about the present position OF the
Versailles war council. General Sir
Henry Rawlinson, who was the Brit
ish representative on the council. was
gwen the command Of the Fifth army.
against. which the Gernaaps., made
their principal gains recently. in place
Of General Cough who commanded it
in tha first days of the battle. No an
nouncement of Rawlinson's successor
has been made. This gives rise to the
belief that General Foch since his APP
pointment as comn,ander-inch chief on
the western front has superseded the
Versailles council in having the direc-
ton of military operations.
/ Irish Matter Later.
The Irish legislation is a matter for
the future. The cabinet program be-
/, for the introduction of the budget and
that likely viii follow discussion of
the military act.
II forecasts by several newspapers
/; of the character of the reports of the
Irish convention are true, the cabinet
is not strictly pledged to take any &C
ton on the report. These newspapers
of recommendations for government
in Ireland but is merely a narrative
OF the proceedings of the convention.
Premier Lloyd George urged the
convention to agree upon a scheme
for the foundation Of government
which would go to realize the hopes
of 1rishmen all over the world, even
| il it left questions like finance until
after the war. Whether the conven-
a bill and whether il it fails to meet
the premier's hopes. the cabinet. will
put forward some scheme of it's own
remain to be seen.
/ But Ireland may become involved
in the discussion of the military bill
+! Gossip has 1t that the CABINET Is con-
sidering a statement that compulsory
service applies to Ireland in prin-
ciple. although not proposing to en-
force it now. Joseph Devlin. the
Irish nationalist leader, who. arrived
in London today from Ireland. Will
/; fght even that mild assertion OF Irish
\: Responsibility.
4, Several of the morning newspa pers
say there is. reason to believe that
Premier Lloyd George intends to fore.
shadow in his speech today the in
PRODUCTION shortly of home rule
measure which would set up an Irish
parliament in Dublin with due safe
guards for the Protestant minority
! and a compromise on the much dis
cussed customs questions. According
to one paper the new bill also is ex-
pected to include military service and
an executive responsible to the Irish
parliament but with no control over
naval. army and foreign affairs.
-Kslp Light the Torch
nANICI HnMAAENnc