CANADIAN SUPPORT FOR THE REFERENDUM [To THE EIHTOIL or TEE
" Brscrarea.”1 SIR,—Why should not the Home Rule question be settled by a Referendum? A petition with that end in view, a copy of which is enclosed, along with an editorial that appeared in the Sentinel, is being circulated in Canada. The gravity of the situation created by the Irish Parliament Bill is my only apology for commending this petition and editorial to you for your serious consideration.—I am, Sir, &c.,
W. R. PLEWMA.N (Associate Editor).
The Sentinel Publishing Co., Ltd., Toronto, Canada.
" PETITION.
To the Rt. Hon. H. H. Asourris, Westminster, London, Eng.
We, the undersigned citizens of Canada, while not wishing to meddle with the domestic affairs of the United Kingdom, believe it to be our duty as British subjects to do everything in our power to avert a calamitous civil war over the Irish Parliament Bill. We believe that a measure of such Constitutional importance, that threatens to provoke bloodshed and to involve the whole Empire in a bitter, internecine struggle, should not become law until it has received the most explicit sanction of the people of the United Kingdom. We are convinced that this cannot be secured by means of a General Election in which the popularity of candidates and of various policies is certain to be a prominent factor. We, theiefore; most respectfully petition your Govern- ment to add to the Irish measure a clause stipulating that the
Bill shall become operative only on receiving the assent of a majority of the electors of Great Britain and Ireland."
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