PRIME MINISTER ON THE NEW IRISH PROPOSALS.

NO SEPARATION.

TWO LOCAL PARLIAMENTS.

“It is always the right time to do the right thing.” With that phrase the Prime Minister swept side any objections that might be raised against the moment chosen for outlining the Government’s Irish proposals. There never was, never had been, and never would be, an “acceptable” time for presenting a solution. Nor was he under any illusion that his solution would be acceptable to Irish opinion, or, indeed, to any section of it. For no party in Ireland is prepared to accept anything except the impossible. But what then? That is no excuse for inaction. It only put upon the British Government the duty of proposing what they think to be right and fair and just. The Prime Minister dealt frankly and honestly with the root difficulties of the situation, in a way that neither Mr. Gladstone nor Mr. Asquith ever did when introducing their Home Rule Bills. He did not seek to please friends or to conciliate opponents, and the little handful of Irish Nationalists – Mr. T. P. O’connor included – had ostentatiously absented themselves in a sort of ridiculous and childish demonstration, pretending they were not interested in what the Prime Minister had to say. So only Unionist Ulster was represented in the House yesterday, when these proposals, big with fate, were laid before the Imperial Parliament. British opinion will be reassured to find that the Prime Minister did not falter with the question of Irish Independence. He said bluntly, and he also said passionately, that, Britain cannot and will not accept Separation, because Separation would be fatal to both, and especially to herself. Mr. Lloyd George did not take long to get into the heart of his theme. Everyone in his audience agreed with his two basic facts: (1) that the hostility of three-quarters of the population of Ireland to the Union is not due to material grievances, because Ireland was never so prosperous; and (2) that the objection of certain sections of the Northeast of Ireland is just as violent to Irish rule. The proposals of the Government are based on an acceptance of both those propositions. Ireland must be granted self-government, but to force union in Ireland would be to promote disunion. But Ireland herself must remain an integral part of the United Kingdom. The Government scheme may be set forth as follows Ireland is to have two Parliaments or Legislatures. The Northern Parliament will have for its sphere all that part of North-east Ireland which is homogeneous. The Southern Parliament will have for its sphere all the rest of Ireland. But every opportunity and encouragement is given to these two Parliaments to link up through the medium of a Council of Ireland of forty members, composed of twenty from each Parliament. The powers of the council shall be: (1) All private bill legislation (from the outset).

(2) Any services transferred to it by consent of both Parliaments, e.g., railways and canals and, it is hoped, the Post Office. (3) Both Parliaments will have full constituent powers, so that they may transfer services to the Council – the nucleus of the United Irish Parliament of the future – without reference to the Imperial Parliament.

QUESTION OF POWERS.

The scheme follows the plan of 1914, and reduces the Irish representation at Westminster to forty-two. Such is the machinery of the new Irish self-government. The question of the powers to be conferred upon the two Parliaments next arises, and here again the general scheme of 1914 is followed. That is to say, certain important powers are reserved to the Imperial Parliament, these include: The Crown. Peace and War. Foreign Affairs. Army and Navy and Defence. Trade outside Ireland. Navigation. Wireless and Cables. Appointment of the Higher Judiciary till the two Parliaments agree as to the method of their appointment. On the other hand, the powers of the two Irish Parliaments will include: Education. Local Government. Land and Agriculture. Roads and Transport. Old Age Pensions and Insurance. Local Judiciary. Labour Legislation. Law and Order.