IFI THE PRIME MINIST1R 1 S PLEDOE: • ERE is Mr. Lloyd George's
pledge to the people' of North-East Ulster, made on March 7th, 1917 " In the north-eastern portion of .Ireland you have 8.4i0pulation as hostile to Irish rule as the rest of Ireland is to British rule, and as ready to rebel against this as the rest of Ireland is against British rule ; as alien in blood; in' religious faith, in traditions, in outlook— as alien from the rest Of Ireland in this respect as the inhabitants of Fife or Aberdeen. It is no use mincing words. Let us have a clear understanding. To place them under national rule 'against' their will would be as' glaring an outrage on the principles of liberty and self-government as- the' denial of self-government wduld be for the rest of Ireland.'
The Prime Minister then asked - if the House thought the people of this country were prepared to sanction this 'glaring outrage,' and replied In my judgment, and -here'I. speak.on' behalf Of the Government, there is but one' answer to that. They are- not.' And finally he added that, in complete agreement with Mr. Asquith, he certainly never contemplated the prospect of coercing 'Ulster into acceptance of Home Rule.'" In the face of this get who will dare to say' that Moth.- . East Ulster has not- the- rig to deincitul ExcltiSion ?
She has not the right, 4a has never claimed the rigid, to Veto' Home Rtill for the rest 'ofIreland.
She has the right to veto it for herself—i.e., for the SiY-County Area.
The complete validity of this claim the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, speaking ex officio,- has publicly acknowledged. in open Parliament in the- words just given.
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