Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-03-07
SETTLE|R|SHISSUE,
X-PREM||ERIURG
Asquith, Returning TOT arliarnent.
Calls for Prompt Adjourn
ment of Problem.
MAKE IT SELF oVERNlHG
Proposes to Put Island on Same
Basis With All Other
British Dominions.
BY HERBERT IL. AsaUITH,
Ex-Premier,. ~ hO-TOok His Newly Won
= Sent in Pnrllnna mt n Few Days AFRO, 2.

Ex-Premier, W hO-TOok His Newly Won
Seat in Parliament Few Days Ago.
Especial Cable to Universal Scrvicc.l
LONDON, March G.-The question OF
Great Britains relations with Ireland
portance. j have been d home-ruIer
ever since j entered public life.
think that for n permanent settle.
look, We must proceed upon the most
generous lines. 1fspeak for myself, but
as tere are IN gss the ne@
Parliament control over their customs
and excise; in other words. putting
spcct as all the great self-governine
British dominions.
Declares Irish Shrewd.
KS / am satisfied that the Irish are O.
very shrcwd and businessiike people.
and II this power were entrusted to
them they would not abuse II. at any
rate as against Great Britain. and, in
the long run. not as against any sec
ton Of their own inhabitants, because
il they did they would be impoyerish-
hg wes,d TO las reafsr
their fcilow-citizens.
II is 20 their interest to have the.
4 freest ana most unrestricted intercourse,
between the two islands.
Nor. am | seriously alarmed at the
apprehension, quite honestly enter
Brilaln. that the majority would adopt,
by means OF the excise or income tax,
unfair treatment toward tho minority.
There is no place in the world which
is SO interdependent, and to suppose,
for Instance. that there would be any
tom OF fiscal Injustice against Ulster is,
to my mind, to credit the Irish people
With the Intelligence of lunatics.
Ulster Source of Prosperity.
GgrtUlster is the great source of Irish
prosperity and wealth. and anything
Which tended to d. i've away either capS
5iti,i or labor from Ulster or to hamper
or penaliZe the magnificent system
which the Ulster people have built up
~ thelr own energy and skill, would
n 9 or u fse Is he rest of Irelahd
The iilsh must keen fl view In
.thcir, settlement the unity of Ireland
thing. and at the same time they must
rot be afraid. for the sake of pedantic,
l9Eicai symmetry or anything OF that
Kind, TO allow for wide elaclicity and
diversity In regard to particular areas
and particular interests.
Many. and successive as are tho dis
appointments with which British at
s,ttil.ts TO solve Irish difficulties are
co .t,, mel. am ,sanguine enough
ns.sc In is breadth and Significance Is
,,aiy ana prope y presented. not only
tho people OF Northeast Ulster in the
i,SJxh, Presented TO them mot as tri-
I nmpil ~ majority over a minority.
whieli, without any sacrifice OF religion.
1851 custom II you like. of prejudice
by Side and contribute to tho progress
and prosperity OF the: common coun-
Try, and ] am sanguinc enough to he :
i'eEe that there VIII not be even need
TO cocrce Ulster
What Would Republic Meant
There are some people who believe
the .iirs, act OF an Irish assembly would
ne 10 p oclaim something In the nature
what would an Irish republic mean
in fact: 1t would mean the severance
OF Ireland not only from the United
: Kinslom, but a voluntary seif-eXclu
y sion from the whole British empire Ire
deliberately cut off by her own act
from pa tnership In one common inn
perial adventure.
She would be belittling herself. going
down the steps OF the latter, abdicat-
ing her place In the greatest partner
amongst the smallest and least consid-
ereI Of all political units. ~ q
Nv hat possible Interest has Ireland
IN cutting herself adtift fro m the great
est inheritance. 70 be found amongst
d san nations MS Of the World? It Is a
IN the attempt to get rid of what is
ny Tar the greatest reproach 10 British
+. statesmanship. not only'a reproach but
a nag ant and indefensible violation of
Inc principle of seif-determination, to
peoples, have committed ourselves
me case Of Ireland i.i some respects
STANDS on, Its own, footing. It is a
case where social order Is seriously
a ah1 Dcriodtcally- imperiled, but. though
a., m0st urgent, 1t is not the only case
an.which the principle of self-deterrni-
nation. should be more fully apnlied.
They want it in Scotland, In Wales
anu they want IL in England also -