South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-04-13
IRISH STEP
NEARER HOME
RULE POWER
Convention Submits Plan to
Parliament, Although Not
Unanimous Decision, 1t
is Basis for Pact.

!
! The Irish convention, which met at
Dublin for eight months consider
ing the problem besetting the island,
] has submitted To the British parlia-
ment a plan which, while not the
unanimous decision of the cOnven-
/ ton. represents a basis for agree
ment on some of the questions that
/ in the past have prevented all the
parties of Ireland from acting IN
1 harmony.
The plan calls for Sn IRISH parlla-
ment modelled after that Of the en-
| pirc. the authority of which would
not be diminished. An executive re-
sponsible 10 it and with full powers
over internal legislation admins
tration and direct taxation, also is
provided
To meet the objections from
unionists, it is agreed that a 40 per
/ cent representation in the proposed
/ parliament will be guaranteed them
by the dominant nationalist. Pro-
! vision also is made for extra repre-
sentation from Ulster.
J Minority reports were submitted
by the Ulster uuionists and the mi
nority faction Of the nationalist.
rhe Irish convention failed 10
| agree upon scheme of se1f-govern-
ment for Ireland but laid a founda-
ton for an agreement "unprecedent-
ed in history" Sir Horace Plunkett,
! chairman of the convention, said
this in a letter 10 the prime minis
ter. transmitting a report of the
! proceedings of that body. "a larger
measure of agreement has been
reached upon the principle and de-
tails Of Irish f-government," he
declares, than has ever yet been
attained"
UIsterites. Strong Opposition.
1t was not found possible, Sir
! Horace explains. TO overcome the
! objection of the Obstetrics. The ma
/ jority of the nationalist, all south
ern unionists, and five out of seven
labor representatives, however.
! agreed that the scheme set out in
the report should be Immediately
enacted into law.
The difficulties of the convention.
says the chairman. may be summed
up in two words. Ulster" and Gus
tCms'-the latter referring to de-
mands Of the nationalist for I'M
/ restricted fiscal powers. To this de-
1 mand the southern unionists, as
well as the Ulster unionists would
not agree, but the southern union
lists and the nationalists were will
ing. in order that an Irish parlia-
[
legislative decision on the question.
q recognize writes Sir Horace,
that action in parliament on the
result Of our deliberations must
largely depend upon public opin-
ion" adding that the work OF an
Irish settlement is now felt TO ad-
nit of no further postponement In
the dominions and the United States
as well as the other allied countries
the unsettled Irish question is a dis
turbing factor both as regards war
effort and peace aims"
The Majority Plan.
The scheme of the majority as de-
scribed in the chairman's letter pro-
vides for esta blishment of a parlia-
ment for the whole of Ireland with
an executive responsible to it. and
with full powers over all internal
legislation. administration and di-
rect taxation. Pending decision of
the fiscal question, it is provided that
imposition of duties and excise shall
remain with the imperial parlia-
( ment. but that the whole OF the
/ proceeds of those taxes shall be
paid to the Irish exchequer. A joint
exchequer board would be set up to
determine the irish true revenue
and Ireland would be represented
upon the board Of customs and ex-
else Of the United Kingdom. Irish
representative in the imperial par
lament would be elected by the
/ Irish parliament instead of direct
~ by constituencies.
Two Houses Proposed.
The Irish parliament would con-
/ sist of two houses. a senate Of 64
I members and a house OF commons
of 200. The principle underlying
the composition of the senate is rep
resentation Of interests. This would
be effected By giving representation
TO commerce, industry and labor,
county COUNCILS. CHURCHES ttdIutu
institutions and peerage.
Sir Horace remarks that in con-
shutting the house Of commons the
natiOnalists offered 10 guarantee 30
per cent Of its membership to the
unionists. He adds that il was
agreed that in the south Of Ireland
adequate representation for union
lists could only be secured by nomi-
ration but ''as listers representa-
tives had informed the convention
that those for whom they spoke
could not accept the principle of
nomination. provision was made in
the scheme for extra representation
of Ulster by direct election"
Catholic Prelates Included.
Nationalist mem Ders of the con-
vention, including Arch bishop Harry
and Bishops O'Donnell diocese OF
RaphOe) and Mucrory. ana Joseph
| Devlin, signed a minority report dis
senting from certain recommends
tons Of the majority. They say:
Except for some important po-
liticaI and labor abstentions. the
convention worthily reflected almost
every phase and interest ana class
in the varied life OF Ireland. But
l