Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-11-28
PeaceOffer
To Ireland
Outlined
Sim Fein rendered Complete
Dominion Status Wi'h ",-
cepti~v'" "a,N-Ln
%Sp "'
Ulste. still in Doubt

UlStel chll IN doubt
Chicago Tribune Gable. Copyright, le.i
Tunbridge Wells, England. Nov.
27.--Lord Birkcnhcad, the lord chan-
cellor Of England, speaking here
for the first time, outlined the
imperial governments proposal to
the Sim Fein for the settlement
OF the Irish question. The govern
ment's offer is for complete domin-
ion status with the sole exception OF
two vital and dispensabe' rescr-
vations, one concerning the tariff be-
tween Ireland and England and the
other naval facilities for England in
Ireland.
"In coming into the conference,
the government made it clear that
it could not consent to any arrange
ment which would produce the seces-
sion Of Ireland from the common
wealth OF nations called the British
empire said Lord Birkenhead at
offered to the Sim Fein representa-
tives that they be placed in exactly
the same position--neithcr better
nor a worse position--as the citizens
Of the great Canadian dominion.
Reservations Made.
1.-TWO reservations were made con-
cerning certain questions-tariff and
naval facilities--which it was stated
were plainly vital and indispensable
to Ireland as we'll as to England. But
in all that concerned themselves
they were to be the absolute masters
Of their own destiny. The crown
was made up as symbol. The crown
was as necessary in Ireland as it was
in Canada, Australia, New Zealand
and the whole British empire.
Whatever may have been their
shortcomings in their past dealings
with Ireland, none could complain
that the British government had not
with reservations necessary in Or
der to safeguard the position of Ul-
ster-with the utmost generosity
conceded the whole substance of her
historic claims.
81 would be misleading you if |
pretended that our anxieties had been
in any way diminished. Neither di-
rectly nor indirectly had it been the
policy of this government to apply
coercion to Ulster
Powers Safeguarded. i
"There could be no question Of tax
ing from Ulster those special privi-
leges and powers which were given to
her, by an act Of parliament year
ago. twas made plain that all these
powers would be safeguarded. Being
entrusted with these powers and
having complete protection against
any invasion of them, the govern
ment hopes that Ulster, some time
in the near future, will realize that as
a free agent her interests will be bet
ter served on matters which concern
Ireland as a whole by contributing to
such union, all that she could bring
of her experience and political and
commercial knowledge"
Continuing, Lord Brinkenhead de-
clared this difficulty of persuading
Ulster was one OF the gravest which
had arisen and he could not conf
IDENTIFY predict that it would be solved.
But generally he hoped that on this
point compromise would be reached
i'll which Ulster would have exercised
the option as to whether or not it
chose to adhere to such central au-
thorities for all Ireland as had been
while at the same time re-
tanning the special privileges and
powers secured for it by the recent
act.
Outcome in Doubt.
II can not tell you whether the
final result of the conference will be
the acceptance or rejection of the
governments proposals, for | do not
know" the lord chancellor continued.
But in any case | hope and expect
that it will take the view that this
quarrel is not one which affects the
of Ireland and England
only. 1t is a quarrel which affects
and weakens the whole British en-
plre. 1t is quarrel which produces
consequences in the United
States of America.
There is tribunal greater than
the one which sits in Downing
street, greater than the one which
meets at Westminster-the tribunal
of public opinion of the
citizens of the empire. At the first
possible moment we shall take our
fellow citizens completely into our
as to what we have said,
done and proposed. What will be
the next step after the proposals are
made known, ] do not know"
Lord Birkenhead emphasized the
grave situation of Great Britain,
politically aud commercially, and he
said that the one hope for a happy
cmergenee from the present dis
tressful conditions was the Wash
ington conference, where questions
Of the most vital importance were
being discussed.