Sir John Simon found in Sir E. Carson's speech a
sub- stantial indication of a desire for a settlement. It was not true that the Government's proposals for a settlement were dead. "The offer will remain open whatever the result of this debate may be." The Government must impose "some limiting period." As regards Federalism, the Government would still consider it, but it must be subject to the following conditions : "No postponement of Home Rule; no evisceration of the Bill ; no perpetual division of Ireland." The Government's offer had been made for the Bake of peace, and "we are prepared to discuss any reasonable modification of it for the sake of peace." Mr. Healy scoffed at everybody —at Mr. Redmond, who had formerly stated that an appeal to the electorate was unthinkable, although Sir Edward Grey had since announced that the Bill would not come into effect until there had been an election, and at Sir Edward Grey, who was "so lucid that even the Balkaneers could understand him." After some cuts at the Unionists, Mr. Healy finally turned on Mr. Devlin, and described the Devlins as the "hereditary horse-boys of the O'Neil's."
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