The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-04-12
ASQUITH WILL
DEMANDDRAFT
BILLCHANGES
Warns That Measure. Apart
From Irish COnscriptiOn
Must BE Modified.
FINAL PASSAGE Is SURE
NatiOnalists' Thunder Is Dis
counted Somewhat and Com
promise Is Hinted.
FINAL PASSAGE Is SURE
Special Gable DesrdfcA to Tss srx.

Copyright, 1915: al ricAh rsstrfed.
LONDON. April 11.-There Is no likeli-
hood that the man power bill as intro
duced by Prime Minister Lloyd George
Tuesday will 60 through with a rush.
and 1t is possible to get a clearer per-
spective OF its provisions and their prob
able effects upon the country than was
afforded by the Premier's speech and
the debate yesterday in the House Of
Commons.
No doubt OF the passaSa OF the bill
is expressed, but it will be modified sub
stantially. This was intimated by for
mer Premier Asquith. who, while he has
given the measure benevolent support.
practically told the Government that.
apart from ireland. certain concessions
are necessary before the measure goes
through.
Most Liberals mack Bill.
Generally speaking. the Unionists
solidiy support the bill. as do tho ma
jority Of Liberals. but the more extreme
members Of the Liberal party are In
clinsd FOR the present to associate them.
selves with the opposition Of the Ma
tionaiists to the extension OF conscr!p.
ton 10 ireland.
Th's is Of rouyse the cruz Of the stu.
alton. There II np division Of opinion
that Ireland should play her part in
the wa; lfow she shall play that pa ! .
remains 10 be solved. At the n,onsn !
when ths 1rlsh convention has reported
some form Of home rule TO ne proposed
by the 9ovet ninent 1t Is s!niu.ts nee ousiy
announced tina. conscri Ption will he APP
Piled 10 Ireland without any reference
10 Tast present o. prospective repre-
sentAtives CT Ireland.
Those familiar With irish political
methods do not accep' al their face
value ti:ea:s u, tie Eat,onallsts OF
political war to ;,s knife. II is suE-
sested IN some quarters that their veiy
violence is only f tid for better terms
on home RUE. II is pointed out that
there Is hope il! Joseph Devlins sux-
sest.on OF Irish coiscripton coming as
- free gift from a free people
1t is suggested also that the difficulty
may be solved by the Satiopallsts and
tlsiernlen pledging themselves to pro-
duce certain quota Of men without
compulsion. while at the same time the
Government will do its best to expedite
a measure for self-government.
situation In HOase Perpl~1inE.
While both the Satioualists and IL
stermen Insist they will not have any.
thing to do with such measure. that
does not necessarily mean that their op-
position will carry them that far.
At present the situation in the House
Of Commons In extremely confused The
Liberals cannot we'll support home rule
Fundamentally IL there Is no Irish com
parison on the other hand. tho Unionists
can hardly oppose home rule II there ID
compulsion.
The NationalIsts realize. despite their
Deliieerent talk, that II they demonstrate
that their early enthusiasm for the war
has vanished there will be not the
sileh.es. chance for Il home rule bill OF
any sort getting through.
Sir George Cave. the Home Secretary
deuied In the debate yesterday that
there Is any connection between The ap-
pllcation OF conscriptiOn 10 Ireland aud
the granting q! home rule. lie said a
military measure could not be made con-
tingent OH the approval Of an Ir!sl, par.
Lament. II there were an Irish parlia-
ment to-day, he added. the question OF
imperial parliament.
Al tie same time. lie continued. there
10 a connection between military service
and self-govern,nent IN Ireland. but II
is In no sense a parliamentary question
II lrie!,men desired to have "A measure
Of self-government with the consent and
good will of the people Of Great Britsln
their best plan. he said. was 10 do az
other men had done and give their SER
vices to their country in its time Of
need.
17B.827 lrishmen n Army.
Sir George estimated that ireland
would Yield . considerable number OF
men. II the Government could expect
ten divisions. or even fivs. It would be a
substantial addition. 1T II believed that
more than 10000 At Irishmen are avail
able. besides 5000 natives Of Great
Britain and aliens domlcl!ed In Ireland
who would be included under the inan
power bill. Other estimates put the
number below 100000.
Figures compiled this year show the
total number Of Irish recruits for the
army up 10 February was 1:<,6s1. OF
these 6<.ss7 were Romanists and 5c.725
PrOtestants. The total number Of Irish
men serving with the forces was 176,627.
As TO the effect Of tho application OF
the man power bill In England. the total
number Of men between 40 and 50 years
old In England and Wales. according to
the last census was roughly 100000.
The Prime Minister said In his speech
that per cent. Of the mon between ~
and so would be available. II he In
tended to indicate that this was the total
NJ for general service. It would yield
only 100000 men. which probably would
be reduced by the higher proportion Of
ineffectivss at that age.
II 10 not believed, however. that the
Premier intended to convey the idea that