When the Bill was considered on the Report stage on
Tuesday, Mr. Dillon predicted a general resistance to Conscription in Ireland, but hinted that an immediate grant of Home Rule would remove Nationalist distrust of the Government Mr. Barnes said that Irishmen should not cry out until they were hurt, and that a great deal of water would flow through the bridges before this particular clause could be put into operation. The Government meant to pass a Home Rule Bill, and would resign if the Bill did not pass. Sir Edward Carson then pointed out that Conscription was obviously to be delayed until Home Rule was given. Ulster was to be handed over as the price for Conscription. There was no guarantee, even then, that the Nationalists would accept Conscription. The Sinn Feiners, who had not been consulted, would certainly oppose it. The Government had tried to please everybody, and would in the long run please nobody. He hoped, nevertheless, that Ulster, though wronged and deceived, would support Conscription. He himself would submit to Slim Fein rule rather than oppose the Government in this crisis of war. There Sir Edward Carson spoke as the true patriot, who would subordinate his deepest convictions and his most cherished interests to his country's needs.
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