13 APRIL 1918, Page 2

Mr. Lloyd George then declared that as it had proved

necessary to put men of fifty and boys of eighteen into the Army to fight for the liberty and independence of small nationalities, it was no longer possible to justify the exclusion of Ireland. The Irish Nationalist Party had voted for the war. Mr. Redmond had not opposed Conscription in principle. The Irish battalions were now half full of Englishmen. Irishmen had been conscripted- in America and in Canada. In justice to Great Britain, the- Government proposed to extend the Military Service Acts to Ireland. As the register had yet to be made, some weeks would pass before Irishmen could begin to be enrolled, and the date would be faxed by Order in Council. " That," cried Mr. William O'Brien, " is a declaration of war against Ireland."