ANOTHER PROPOSAL FOR IRELAND.
[To TEE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—Our statesmen, in their lack of statesmanship, seem determined to concede a very large measure of autonomy to Ireland. The concession will, I believe, prove ruinous to Ireland, though possibly beneficial, in a material sense, to Great Britain. The question of the hour is what form shall the concession take. What the Irish people want we do not know with any certain knowledge ; but we do know what Mr. Parnell and his party want. They want Separation. And our so-called advanced— in reality retrograde—politicians are willing to give them Home- rule. I agree with Mr. Morison that between Home-rule and Separation Great Britain would do well to choose the latter. But there is an intermediate form of autonomy better than either Home-rule or Separation. I refer to an Irish Protectorate, which might be established upon the following lines :-1. The North- Eastern counties (Protestant Ireland) to be marked off from the rest of Ireland (Catholic Ireland). 2, Catholic Ireland to be independent under British protection, established by an instrument or treaty, whereof due execution to be assured by a British Resident ad hoc being accredited to the Irish Govern- ment under such an instrument. 3. Great Britain to provide for the military and naval defence of Ireland, retaining her naval port in the South and power hf recruiting upon terms. Ireland to maintain no military force other than a sufficient constabulary.
4. Landowners to be bought out by Irish State loan, guaranteed by Great Britain, such guarantee to be covered by proper securities given by the Irish State. 5. Irish residents in Great Britain to exercise option as to Irish or British nationality, within a certain time. 6. Ireland to manage her own tariff, but only so far as may be compatible with existing treaties, and with freedom from the risk of retaliatory or otherwise increased duties being imposed upon British products by foreign States. The status of a protected State excludes, of course, all ingerence in the foreign or domestic affairs of the protecting State. Clauses in the instrument would provide for the civil and religious free- dom and equality of the Protestant minority. Questions as to repartition of Debt, quota of cost of defence, admission of Irish- men to British public services, and others of a like nature, are questions of administrative science which only experts can adequately deal with.—I am, Sir, &c., Burlington Gardens, W. F. V. DIOXINS.
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