Mr. Devlin moved to adjourn the debate as a protest
against the application of Conscription to Ireland. A Committee of the Con- vention, including three Unionists and two Nationalists, had reported that under Home Rule Irish Conscription would be im- possible without the assent of the Irish Parliament. (We may interject that the impossible is happening in Quebec.) Mr. Devlin said that he believed the war to be just, but that he wanted a guarantee of Great Britain's good faith. The motion for adjourn- ment was defeated by a majority of 243. Other Irish Members denounced the proposal with great vehemence, Mr. Healy predicting a general strike in Ireland against Conscription. Sir Edward Carson said that nothing mattered but victory. He regretted that the GOvernment had mixed up the question of Home Rule with that of Conscription. He reminded the Nationalists that the Ulster Division had for the fourth time covered themselves, and Ireland, with glory, and told his Nationalist fellow-countrymen that they could best contribute towards an Irish settlement by fighting side by side with the Ulstermen. On a division, leave to introduce the Bill was given by a majority of 219, only 80 voting against it.
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