New-York tribune., 1920-11-25
Grey Urges
Concessions
For Ireland
tcentlnusd from page sns)

cedure again.
He would have 1t clesrly understood
In Ireland that Great Britain could not
60 on indefinitely being unanswered
into the position of either coercing
Nationalist Ireland or coercing Ulster,
and the greatest lever the government
could bring to bear to obtain settle
ment would be to make it perfectly
clear that the ultimate responsibility
for the government of Ireland rested
with the Irish people, and that the
government could not continue indef
nitely to govern any part OF Ireland
by force.
Would Withdrawn Armed Force
He desired to qualify his previous
suggestion, made before reprisals were
heard of. that the armed forces should
be withdrawn from ireland two years
hence He would admit frankly that un-
der the present state OF things in Ire
land he would never advocate that the
armed forces should be Kept there for
another two years or for any specified
time.
Expressing indignation at the murders
and anxiety for the lack of discipline
of the crown forces, Niscount Grey de-
clared that unless the government
could assume direct, real and effective
control in Ireland it would be better to
withdraw the armed forces now. He
wished the government TO have all
powers for Furnishing crime, but these
powers must be exercised with real dis
cretion and control, and if that were
impossible, then withdrawal was the
better course.
Voicng his doubt as to whether a
constituent assembly or convention to
settle the question was practicable now,
and criticizing the financial clauses of
the bill, the speaker urged the govern
ment to try and amend the bill and
make it more acceptable by more gen
erosity regarding finance and by offer
ing fiscal autonomy in the hope that it
would bring about peace, instead of de-
handing peace as condition of giving
fiscal autonomy.
Cites Loss of America
AlIuding to foreign opinion, Lord
Grey hoped tho government would en-
deavor TO make the bill sufficiently
generous to appeal to all moderate
opinion.
"Wc have the greatest empire in the
world" he declared, but it has not
been without its reverses. We lost
America through not giving in time
and not giving enough. Have we ever
IN our history lost through giving too
much ?'
He instanced South Africa as an IL
lustration, and said it was not yet too
late. As it stood the bill would only
mean trouble in Ireland, but if the bill
were improved there was a real pros
p1ct. He begged the government to
take courage from the history of the
empire and not throw away this oppor-
tunity. but give the House the oppor-
tunity Of recording its verdict on
larger and better measure.
NIscount Bryce said that instead of
cutting Ireland in two it would have
BEEN better to have one Parliament,
with all possible guarantees that III
ster would be looked after. The bin
as Il stood offered no prospect of full
iiiiing the hopes they all cherished, and
1t was only by going still further that
settlement could be ACCOMPLISHED.
1ne resolution introduced in the
House OF Commons by Mr.. Asquith was
composite combining the Independent
Liberal and Labor motions, and spon-
sorcd by Mr AsQuith, Donald MacLean
and Arthur Henderson,
Policy of Reprisals Condemned
Er. Asquith, ampifying the subjects
set forth in Che resolut on, condemned
what he termed the governments mol
icy OF reprsals, which, he said, had
driven moderate Nationalist opinion in
ireland into an attitude if not of SYM
pathy with at least Of supine indif
terence to anarchic action"
The former Premier declared there
was only one way for escape, and that
the first step lay with the government
ms, he SAID, was to discontinue the
feprsals. lie believed he said, that
an overwhelming majority of the Irish
people and of the Grown forces had no
sympathy with reprisals.
1t was difficult, said Mr.. Asquith, to
speak with restraint of Sundays as.
cruel, cold-blooded murder" he CON
tinued, 'and can only have been the
work Of men who have lost all sense
OF humanity and honor. The very
gravity of such crimes as these-Im
afraid it's Il mistake to say they are
decreasing makes it all the more nee
essary that the executive shall be able
to encounter them with a clear front
and clean hands,
Breaking Terror, Says Greenwood
Answering Mr. Asquith, Sir Hamar
Greenwood was loudly cheered on ris-
ing.
The vast majority Of the people
OF Ireland are not in favor Of murder"
ilc H-4u hSy want peace, ana tney
are getting peace because the forces
of the crown arc breaking the terror
Sir Hamar declared the vast ma
Jollty OF the Irish people were on the
bes' of terms with the soldiers and the
police.
The murder gang in Ireland" he
continued, tissues document known as
the Irish Republican Bulletin. and that
murder gang serds the bulletin to
persons in England. and to newspapers
il Eaeiand. Some Ef them publish it.
What amazes me is that the London
liberal Federation has actually used
the bulletin and based on it charge Of
reprsals. so called and circulated it
without any comment except this: Dis
play this prominently wherever you
can
"Thc right honorable gentleman (Mr.
Asquith), is president of that fedora
tion," Sly llamar added.
Sir Hamar noted that Mr. Asquith
had referred to the comments Of Amer
ican correspondents.
Assaiis U. 8. Correspondents
eve have certain knowledge" con-
tinued the Chief Secretary, that some
of these enjoy the hospitality of the
murder gang itself in Ireland They
send their newspaper matter to Amer
lea TO hurt Anglo-Amerlcan friendship.
and do their best to damage the British
Empire
Il c0uld MANN tbesa ,,o,o,o .L4 I