Evening star., 1918-04-12

! pleaded strongly against wAat NC !
termed the governments "Euillo-
| tine methods"
LONDON, April 12.-The Irish con-
vention laid the foundation for an agree
ment on the Irish question which Is un-
preeedented in history, Sir Horace
Plunket, chairman of the convention,
says in letter accompanying the re-
port Of that body.
The convention did not find it posi-
BILE to overcome the objections of the
Ulster nnionists, says Sir Horace. A ma
jority of the nztionaiists, all the south
ern nnionists and i've Of the labor rep
resentatives agreed upon scheme of
Irish self government, which, given in
the conclusions reached by the majority,
he states, should be enacted into law.
objects to Postponement.
I'VE had every reason to believe the
government contemplated Immediate
Legislation upon the results Of our la
bor. says sir Horace.
..The work Of an Irish settlement, It is.
now felt, admits Of no further post
ponem4nt- In the ddminions and the
United States. as we1l as the allied
countries, the unsettled Irish question
is disturbing factor, both as regards
war effort and peace aims"
After every possibility Of an agree
writes. he was instructed to draft a re-
port which would be narrative of the
convention's proceedings. with state
ment for the governments information
OF the conclusions adopted unanimously,
or by majority. This draft of the re-
Sir Horace adds that the public has
been provided with no majority report
in the sense Of a. reasoned statement in
favor of conventions upon which the
majority agreed, but has been left to
gather from the narrative of the pro-
ceedings what the contents of such a
report would have been. The issue Of
minority reports by the Ulster union
lists and a minority Of nationalists has
minimixed the agreement reached and
emphasized the disagreement.
Customs Question Vital.
In his letter, which is addressed to
says the customs question became one
of the vital points and that upon a
decision regarding 1t depended the ex-
tent of an agreement which could be
reached.
The geographical position Of ireland
imposed restrictions regarding naval
and military affairs. and the claim for
home rule was concentrated on the de-
| mand for unrestricted fiscal powers.
The nationalists made strong case for
Nanh ND "a tn
prove that a considerable number Of
the leading commercial men had come
to favor fiscal autonomy. A majority
Of the nationalists and Of the southern
| lament might be established at once.
| to postpone the decision in regard to
control OF the customs. The NATIONAL
lists were prepared to agree to free
| unionists Joined the Ulster unionists in
opposing separate system of customs
control.
The principle Of representation for
Ireland in the imperial parliament was
insisted upon by the southern unionists.
says Sir Horace. and the nationalists
conceded It. The Irish members of the
parliament at London under this plan
would be elected by the Irish parliament.
| It was agreed that ireland should
contribute to the cost Of the impe. ial
service. The Irish parliament, 1t was
| decided, should consist Of two houses,
the nationalists guaranteeing that 40
per cent of the lower house would be
composed Of unionists.
| A majority of the convention adopted
a series of resolutions forming q COM
plete plan of self-government, under
which the Irish parliament would have
full powers over all internal legislation.
| Pending decision concerning the GUS
toms question. the imposition Of duties
and excise would remain with the I'M
perfal parliament, but the entire nro-
ceeds OF these taxes would be paid into
the Irish exchequer.
The difficulties Of the convention, Sir
Horace remarks. may be summed up in
two words-Ulster and the customs.
Concessions Declined.
| The Ulster unionist delegates remain
that some form Of home rule would Be
proposed which might modify the de-.
termination Of those whom they repre-
scented to have neither lot nor part ii, an
Irish parliament.
Tho nationalists strove to win them
| by concessions. but they were unable
/ to accept any scheme discussed, and
the only plan they presented was oon-
hned 70 the exclusion Of their whole
Lord Middleton brought forward \
ssggestion which looked Hike worka-
| BILE compromise. It accepted setf-gov-
ernment. In return for the special
| minority representation In the irish
| parliament, which already had been
| concedSd by the natfonalists, It offered
internal lsgislatfon and the adminis-
( xresion Of direct taxation and excise.
put insisted upon permanent reserve
tions 20 the imperial parliament of the
1 power to m customs duties.
Exomlss of home.rule bill has