New-York tribune., 1918-04-16
Ministers Press Lloyd
George to Grant Self
Government First
Favor Plan of
Irish Convention
Third Reading of Man
Power Bill Assured, In
dicating Passage

LONDON, April 15.-The Labor min
isters of the Cabinet, in an inter
| view with Premier Lloyd George to-
night, pressed the Premier to grant
government to Ireland on the ba
sis of the majority report of the Irish
/ Convention before conscription is put
into operation.
1t is understood that the conference
had satisfactory results. ard there will
not be Cabinet crisis.
The third reading of the govern
ment's man-power bill tomorrow is
now regarded as assured. There have
been rumors that Labor revolt might
endangcr the measure, but if. as stated,
Premier Lloyd George has been able
to meet the views Of the Labor Min
listers in the direction of allowing
Home Rule to precedc the application
of conscription in Ireland, that danger
is averted.
The committee stage Of the bill was
tonight without further incident.
During consideration Of the bill to-
day Sir Edward Carson appealed to
the government to deal frankly with
both wings Of the Irish membership in
the House and tell them plainly what
kind of machinery they intend to set
up. He said he found great difficulty in
understanding where they were under
the bill and was beginning to have
grave doubts whether the government
really meant to put it into effect or not.
The government, he said, made
vital mistake in its manner OF intro
ducng the measure and would make
the state Of feeling in Ireland tenfold
worse if it kept the House longer in
the dark.
Sir George Cave. Home Secretary,
having repudiated Joseph Devlin's sug-
gestion that the government wanted to
provoke civil war in Ireland, explained
that the government wished to treat
England and Ireland alike in the matter
of tribunals. The only object Of pro-
posing limit to the right of appeal,
he said, was to diminish delay More
time was needed before tribunals could
be set up in Ireland, but he had no
doubt they would be appointed on
recommendations from the Irish local
government board.
Herbert Asquith, former Premier,
welcomed further concessions an
nounced by Sir George, but still urged
the government to so cautiously. Only
careful, sympathetic consideration OF
the special conditions Of Irish life, he
said, could surmount the almost in
superable difficulty. He still considered
the governments decision as lil-timed
and unnecessary.
Clergymen Not To Be Drafted
Sir George, in behalf of. the govern
ment, announced that clergymen would
not be conscripted. He also accepted
an amendment providing that regula-
ton of recruiting and tribunals would
be controlled by local government
boards instead Of, as proposed in the
bill, by royal proclamation.
I After these concessions had been an
nounced the clause under discussion
was carried by vote of 276 to l34,
/ the announcement of the figures show
ing an increasing minority. This grow
ing opposition to the bill was loudly
cheered by the Nationalists.
Sir Edward Carson's rather unex-
pccted attack on the government arose
during the discussion of the clause
giving lHc O'tIHIllcuC power ny proc
lamation to override military exemp-
tions already granted by tribunals.
The government had already made
some concessions to meet the adverse
sentiment of the public over the pro-
posed dimunition of the power Of tri-
bunals, but many members demand still
further safeguards.
/ Sir Edward, amid applause from
both the Nationalists and Ulsterites
declared he distrusted the government
and felt they were keeping Ireland
dangerously in the dark.
Wanted Open Policy
"Thc government is playing with the
right honorable gentlemen opposite >
he said, "and is playing with us. What
evers they intend to apply to Ireland
they ought not to be ashamed Of"
Sir Edwards speech was punctuated
by ironic remarks by John Dillon anC
loud cheers from the Nationalists. Jo-
scpb Devlin, following, said that Sil
Edwards attack was one Of the strong
est and most welcome things he hat
seen Sir Edward do. Sir Edward, hi
said. was an Irishman and had discov
cred that he could trust nobody in tht
government. an order to cover W
their misdecds," he said, "the govern
ment are raising the anti-Irish cry tt
create civil war in Ireland. Conscrip
tidn is not a national necessity 1t i,
dirty trick, and Carson has exposed
/ it,"