Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-23
IRISH SECESSION
NOT PERMITTED, IS
PREMIER WORD


London Dec. 22.-Premier Lloyd
George addressed the house of com
mons this evening on the irish ques-
ton In opening his address today,
Mr. Lloyd George remarked upon the
extreme difficulty of his task, diff
cult indeed he said, after such a
discreditable outrage as has just been
perpetrated in Dublin The premier
said that parliament must get the fact
right into Its mind that in the exist
ing circumstances, no possible scheme
for Irish home rule was universally
acceptable. Therefore. he continued,
parliament must assume The respon-
sibility and propose what ii thinks fair
and lust. A settlement would be found
not in the enactment of a home rule
scheme, but in its workings.
Ireland, said the premier, was the
only country in Europe except Rus
sia, where the classes who elsewhere
were on the side of law and order
were out of sympathy with the ma
chinery of the government While Ire
land was never so prosperous as today
the fact remained, he declared, that
Ireland was never so alienated from
British rule as she is today.
Any attempt at secession, the pre-
mier announced, would be fought with
the same determination force and res
nor ,hern states in America.
Hopes for Irish Unity.
The premier said ii was proposed
to establish government over the
whole of ireland and to create two
parliaments, one in the north and one
in the south. Every opportunity would
be given Ireland TO establish unity If
she desired IL, and a council would be
established at the outset selected by
the two legislatures. to form q con-
Meeting link between the TWO parts
of the country.
The. two legislatures 20 be created
in ireland the premier said, would be
TO create single Irish legislature to
discharge all powers not specifically
reserved to the imperial parliament
Tho representation of Ireland at
Westminster. Mr.. Lloyd George am
nounced would be reduced under the
proposed measure to forty members,
as in the act of 1914
Each of the two parliaments would
have taxation powers equivalent to
those of the state legislatures OF the
United States. The income tax and
the excess profits and super taxes
would be levied imperially The Irish
parlaments would control all local
matters and all machinery for the
maintenance of law and order except
the higher Judiciary and the army and
navy.
The Customs Problem.
The customs and excise services
would be retained by the imperial par
parliament the premier stated, but
when ireland was united 1t would be
open to the imperial parliament 10
consider whether United Ireland would
have control of the customs.
The premier said the bill would
contain clauses protecting the rights
of minorities. The postal service
would not be transferred, he added,
until there was single parliament in
Ireland.
The government proposed to give
the Irish parliament the advantage of
all duties and taxes raised in excess OF
a fair contribution to the imperial
services. and a free gift. in addition,
finance the development of the Irish
parliament,
1t would rest with the Irish people
themselves, said Nv Lloyd George,
whether they desired union, The con-
sent Of the British parliament would
not be required, aud in order to offer
greater inducement to union, the
government proposes that certain adj