Upon the financial question Mr. Churchill did not throw much
light. Ireland, he declared, was to be given a fair start, and the Imperial Parliament was to continue to deal with Land Purchase and Old Age Pensions. At the same time the Irish Parliament was to have a real control over largo areas of taxation and was to have power within reasonable limits to supplement its income by new taxation. Mr. Churchill added that the number of Irish Members at Westminster would be reduced. The speech ended with a declaration that separation was an absolute impossibility, and with an appeal to the generosity and public spirit of Ulster not to oppose the Bill. Mr. Redmond, speaking immediately afterwards, announced that he accepted every word of Mr. Churchill's speech, and every one of the safeguards which he announced would be included in the Bill.
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