24 MARCH 1917, Page 3

We have dealt elsewhere with the Irish problem (last phase).

But we may lay special emphasis here on a point of groat im- portance. Though we still hold and believe that the incorporating Union of Pitt is the best, and indeed the only, solution—the only plan that gives a workable scheme for regulating the relations between the rest of the United Kingdom and the two parts of Ireland—we do not want to be merely destructive in our criticism. We acquiesce in the experiihent of Homo Rule for Ireland—minus the North-East corner. And hero we may remark that not merely justice but expediency should lead Mr. Redmond and his followers to assent generously and plainly and not grudgingly to the claim of North-East Ulster. After all, what is wanted to reconcile North-East Ulster is some assurance that she will not be injured. But what assurance could be half as good as the voluntary surrender by the Nationalists of any claim to compel North-East Ulster to come in ?