Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-11
FOR ERIN
WILL TEST CABINET
Debate on Lloyd Georges
Declaration Expected in
Commons Tuesday.
By the Associated Press


LONDON, December 1L-Dehate on
the governments Irish policy is ex-
pected to be opened in the house of
commons by liberal leaders next
Tuesday. Announcement of martial
law in southwestern ireland, made by
Premier Lloyd George before the
house yesterday, was accompanied
by limitations that debate on the
subject was not desired, but it ap-
pears propable the lower house of
parliament may be called upon to de-
eide whether the cabinets plans re-
garding~ Ireland are to be carried into
execution without the acquiescence OF
the legislative branch of the govern
ment.
This question, should it come to a
vote, would test the stability of the
Lloyd George cabinet.
Although the declaration of martial
law in Ireland has been decided upon,
the door to negotiations between the
government and the Sim Fein is not
considered closed
Comment in this mornings news
papers relative to the governments
Irish policy, was, for the most part,
restrained and, with the exception OF
one Journal. the governments proposals
were nowhere wholly condemned
Olive Branch and Sword.
The feature of the premier's speech
that did not escape notice was the
fact he was, in effect, holding an olive
branch in one hand and the sword in
the other. It evoked some question
regarded as banishing hope of sue
cess.
Few will question the wisdom and
propriety of the new policy" said the
London Times, "if the government
shows a true and settled purpose to
encourage ting forces making for
honorable settlement. Martial law
able to the existing system of ihdis-
eliminate and 1awless reprisals."
While remarking on the '.extraor-
binary and contradictory dualism"
q the premier's pronouncement. the
Daily News agreed that conditions in
districts affected by martial law
should be better. provided there is
proper administration of the military
regime. The newspaper expressed
pleasure at the premier's readiness to
confer with Sim Feiners.
Graf{hed With Ediet.
Qualification over the proclamation
of martial law in southwestern Ire
land was expressed by the Morning
Post, but it thought the proposal to
confer with that absurd and danger
GUS body calling itself the Dali
Eireann" before restoring order was
a somewhat dubious expedient. The
Telegraph, while not hostile, refused
to speculate on whether the proposal
should prove more successful than its
many predecessors.
The only note Of condemnation came
from the Daily Herald, organ of labor.
It said the premier definitely has
pledged himself to a violation of JUS
tice, and has sworn to crush Ireland
by jackbooted brutality" The news
paper asked British labor whether it
is going to take the responsibility of
supporting and munitioning the wick
edness of the governments coercion
policy, and thus dye its hands with
the blood Of its Irish comrades.
Has New Significance.
It was pointed out today that the
statement made by Baron Birkenhead,
the lord chancellor. during the course
Of the debate on the home rule bill
in the house Of lords now seems to
have a new significance. Baron
declared that if proposals
were advanced by representative opin-
ion in Ireland the government was
prepared to make extensive altera-
tons in its home rule bill.
Speaking here last night, William
c. Adamson, opposition leader in the
house of commons, expressed fear
that the application Of martial law
would seriously handicap any pos
sible negotiations. Andrew B0nar
Law. the government leader, in an
address at Edinburgh, Scotland, said
there was hope Of q settlement in
Ireland.