The sun., 1919-07-17
HOME RULE CRISIS
NEAR; ACT DOOMED
Ulster in Empire, With
Autonomy Elsewhere, Is
Likely Solution.
DIFFICULTIES ABUNDANT
Matter Must Be Settled Before
Parliament Goes Into
Recess.
DIFFICULTIES ABUNDANT
Special Cable oespotch to Tn. Sun.


Copyright. 1919 all rights reserved.
LONDON. July 1e.-As a result Of de-
BATE In the House Of Lords to-day ovel
the irish question two conclusions stant
out slaringly. First. that the homt
rule act now on the statute books II
doomed. and second. that while the Gov
eminent has not evolved any irish
policy, the entire Cabinet will soon dis
cuss the question In an attempt to f1nd
a solution.
In the debate in the House OF Lords
Lord Birkenhead alluded to Sir Ed.
ward Carson's incendiary speech and
deprecated 1t as unnecessary because OF
assurances 80 frequently given In the
rast that Ulster would never be forced
against her will TO submit TO the Dublin
Parliament.
Lord Birkenhead's whole speech re-
Elected the old harsh spirit and gave moi
n single ray of hope that the bitter
feelings between the north and south OF
Ireland would ever be allayed. 1t Is
realized fully that II nothing is done in
the next few weeks the home rule ACT
will automatically become law: there.
fore, unless civil war is courted the mat.
ter must become subject OF early Cabi.
net discussion.
Acceptable Plans DimcuIt.
Nothing can be predicted as to the
plan now being prepared for a settle.
ment OF the Irish question and Il IL
doubtful whether full discussion by the
entire Government can bring out any
new line Of action that would be &C
ceptable both TO the Sim Fem and the
Obstetrics. In 1915 Premier Asquith
declared 1t was impossible to brins
Ulster or any part OF It into a home
rule government without its consent
When Premier Lloyd George succeeded
Mr.. Asqulth he issued a manifesto alons
the same lines. declaring THAI two of the
paths TO settlement we're closed. one
leading 70 the complete severance OF
Ireland from the empire and the other
forcible submission Of Ulster to home
rule.
Since these statements were issuea
matters have not improved. but have
81 own steadily worse In view of this
the motion OF Lord mcdonnell declar.
ing that in the opinion OF the House OF
Lords II was OF the utmost Importance
that Government policy regarding Ire.
iohN VIC ocIhitu ING tIlu OI ITle
session was unanimously adopted.
The home rule act manifestly would
be intolerable. even in Nationalist Ire
land. The general public In England Is
more than willing to give all possible
satisfaction TO Irelands legitimate de.
mands. and England seems now pre-.
pared TO give TO each section OF Ireland
whatever degree OF power It can use &c
Its own advantage without disturbing
the other sections 10 lot the Nationalist
provinces have home rule : to let Royal.
list Ulster remain attached to the empire
and this seems TO be the most equitable
solution.
The whole problem bristles with DIFF.
fculties which the Cabinet must con-
sider and dispose Of before the recess
OF Parliament. On all sides II is agreed
that Lloyd George. now that he has beer
relieved OF the distractions OF the Peace
Conference. must shoulder the hard
task OF working out a solution for Ire
land.