11 OCTOBER 1913, Page 1

We must apologize for insisting so strongly upon the point

just made, but if Unionists do not bear it in mind, and get involved in a general discussion of Home Rule, we may find the door of escape from civil war, which has now been opened, closed again. We must all work hard to prevent it being closed, and must, strange as it may seem to party politicians, actually do our best to help the Liberals out of their tremendous difficulties. Remember that even if they avoid the appalling task of coercing the men of the Covenant in Ulster, they will have a very difficult job indeed in getting—we had almost said forcing—Mr. Redmond and Mr. Devlin to allow them to agree to the policy of exclusion which will now alone save them and us from civil war. We must be careful not to render the Cabinet's action more difficult here.