Mr. Lloyd George, in concluding the debate, said that under
any system of Home Rule the defence of the country must be the sole concern of the Imperial Parliament. The Irish question must be settled to show America that we were doing justice to Ireland. Conscription was necessary and would be enforced in Ireland, but if that were the only answer to " that very remarkable Convention," organized Labour would think that the Irish were being treated unfairly. Home Rule was therefore an essential war measure. The Unionist members of the Government regarded it as part of the price to be paid for victory. The Government made no bargain. " We could not possibly have resistance to Home Rule as a means of defeating Conscription." The Irish clause was then carried by 296 votes to 123—Mr. Dillon crying : " The worst day's work for England since the war began," when the figures were announced—
and the Bill was read a third time by 301 votes to 103. •
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