Evening star., 1920-03-07
IRISH ASSA|l|NG
HOME RULE BILL
Lloyd George Measure Held
Like All Others, With But
Few Improvements.
BY WILLIAM II. BRAYpEN,

BY WILLIAM H. BRAYDEN.
CaDiegfan to The Star and the Chi
cago Daily News. CopyriEht. Ie1D.
DuHlAlN, March 4.-There is a
great contrast between the reception
given by Ireland to the latest home
rule bill and that given the three
bills that preceded it. 1t is hardly
too much to say that its rejection has
been unanimous. Nobody has had a
word to say in its favor.
The favorite criticism is that the
Dill repeals the home rule act now
on the statute book, yet, except for
a provision for the separate treat
ment OF Ulster. to which English
statesmen Of all parties were DEF
nitely pledged. the Lloyd George bill
is merely the old home rule act with
some improvements and with provi-
sions which facilitate its expansion
rule short OF separation. upon which
the opposing sections chose to agree.
When the last home rule bill was
introduced. Patrick Pearse was
among the speakers at . great Dublin
meeting held in support Of it. He
was afterward executed for his share
in the rebellion. Now nothing short
party. The constitutionalists de-
nounce the bill at large. The Sim
Feiners do not even denounce it; they
Ignore it. The only statement they
have made Is one by Arthur Grifnth
for circulation in America, to the ef-
militarists to make Ireland pistol
pointed at New York. The bill, in
fact, leaves all army and navy mat
ters exactly as they are at present:
In . few days We shall have the
drst reasoned criticiar, of the bill
strongly opposed to it and will give
his reasons next Thursday in 4 speech
at a public banquet in Dublin. He
objects altogether to the partition OF
the country. Whatever separate treat.
ment is devised for Ulster interests.
he believes that We should start with
a united country. He believes that
distasteful to the great majority OF
the people. He objects also to the
continuation of Irish representatives
at Westminster.
Gets - PaPlianent Seats.
The bill gives Ireland forty-two
m embers in the imperial parliament
thirty from the south and twelve
from the north. 1t would look more
like . dominion settlement II there
were. as in the case Of the colonies
no representatives, at Westminster.
Belfast thinks 1t would In that case
look moro like separation, and no ar
rangement with Belfast Is possible,
which cuts it OF altogether from the
imperial parliament.
The extent Of the contribution de-
manded for imperial purposes IL re-
pie who have come to believe that
ireland has been depending upon
British subsidies have been surprised
to learn that Ireland IL now paying
into the British excheQuer 1S,000, 600
pounds (normally 10000 .oo0) . year
more than she Eets ont Of it and that
the homo rule bill provides she shall
for the present go on paying II. The
absence from the bill Of real financial
control BY Ireland Of her own taxes
ia also q serious point OF attack. She
cannot levy either customs or exctseS.
Chief Peint Of DiRepe1ce.
This Is the chief point Of differences
between Ulster and the rest OF Ire.
land. At the constitutional oonven-
ton the Ulstermen insisted that the
customs should remain In the ex-
lament Whether they would take
the same view when the question Is
not one Of leaving It to Dublin. but
Of giving the new Belfast parlia-
ment customs rights for itself, re-
mains to be seen.
Belfast will discuss the question in
detail Sir Edward Carson goss thtth-
er this week. He will say that he pre-
fers the status quo and that the union
is good enough for him. but that as q
sacrifice to imperial interests Ulster
ought to consider this bill. It gives to
Ulster all Of tho northeast that is not
given the southern parliament. The
impression that the bill was not Sc
riously meant. but merely q window
dressing to impress America for the
time being, 10 now disappearing. The
best information available 10 that
whatever happens the government
will pass the bill into law. It is ex-
pected, however. that. like its prede-
cessor. 1t may be placed in cold
storage and its actual operation post
poned until Q vague date, when the
disturbances In Ireland shah have
ceased.