The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1921-08-19
nennle involved.

traditions ana luealS. IN the DO-
minion OF Canada the British and
French have long forgotten the bitter
conflicts which divided their ances-
tors. In South Africa the Transvaal
republic and the Orange Free States
have Joined with two British colonies
to make great, selfgoverning union,
under his majesty's sway. The Brit
ish people cannot believe that where
Canada and South Africa. with equal
or even greater difficulties, have so
signally succeeded Ireland will fail,
and they are determined that so far
as they themselves can assure it,
nothing shall hinder Irish statesmen
from joining together to build up an
Irish state in free and willing CO.
operation with the other peoples of
the empire.
Moved by these considerations the
British government invites Ireland to
take her place in the great association
of free nations over which his majes-
ty reigns. As an earnest example of
their desire to oblterate old quarrels
and to enable Ireland to face the flu
ture with her own strength and hope,
they propose that Ireland shall as
sumo forthwith the status of a do
minion. with all the powers and privi-
leges set forth in this document.
"By the adoption of dominion sta
tus, it is understood that Ireland shall
enjoy complete autonomy in taxation
and finance; that she shall maintain
her own military forces for home de-
Tense, her own constabulary and her
own police; that she shall take over
the Irish postal services and all riat-
tiers relating thereto; education, land.
agriculture. mines and minerals. for
estry, housing, labor, unemployment,
transport, trade, public health, health
insurance and liquor traffic, and in
sum that she shall exercise all those
powers and privileges upon which the
autonomy of self-government domin-
ions is based. subject to the consid-
erations set forth in the ensuing
paragraphs.
Guaranteed in these liberties.
which no foreign people can challenge
without challenging the empire as
whole, the dominions hold each and
severally by virtue of their Bri
fellowship, a standing amongst the
nations equivalent not merely to their
individual strength but to the COM
bined power and influence of all the
nations of the commonwealth.
THAT guarantee that fellowship,
mat freedom, the whole empire looks
to Ireland tc accept"
The document proposes that the
conditions of settlement be embodied
in the form of treaty, to which Ell
feet shall be given by the British
and Irish parliaments.
THE form in which the settlement
is to take effect" it adds, will de-
pend upon Ireland herself. 1t must
allow for full recognition of the ex-
listing powers and privileges of the
Parliament and government of North
ern Ireland.
''The British government enter
tains the earnest hope that the neces-
stiles of harmonious cooperation be-
tween Irishmen of all classes and
creeds will be recognized thruout
Ireland and will welcome the day
when by these means unity is achev-
ed. But no such common action can
be secured by force"
Declaring that union in the other
dominions came by consent, the docu-
ment continues:
"In no condition can they consent |
to any proposals which would kindle |
civil war in Ireland. Such a war
would not touch Ireland alone, for
partisans would flock to either side
from Great Britain, the empire and |
with consequences more |
devasting to the welfare both of Ire
land and the empire than the conflict
to which a truce has been called this
The document concludes as fol-
lows:
THE British government will,
therefore, leave Irishmen themselves
to determine by negotiations between
them whether the new powers which
the new pact defines shall be taken
over by ireland as whole and admin
istered by single body, or taken ov-
er separately by southern and north
ern Ireland with or without a joint
authority to harmonic their COM
mon interests.
They will willingly assist in negp-
tiating such a settlement if the Irish
men should so desire.
Great Britain's Desires.
by these proposals the British
government sincerely believe they