The language of the King's Speech, Mr. Asquith went on,
ought to find an echo in every part of the House. He and his colleagues would certainly use no "last words" as to a settlement. He criticised Exclusion, and also the plan proposed by Sir Horace Plunkett of including Ulster, but giving her the option of Exclusion after a stated period. The Government fully recognized that they could not divest themselves of the responsibility of initiative in the way of suggestion. Whatever concessions the Govern- ment made, however, must not be taken as an admission that the Bill was bad. He thought the Bill a sound, practical measure. Any changes introduced into it by the Government would be simply the price of peace. As for the definition of " peace," he meant not merely an avoidance of civil war, but the possibility of starting the new Irish Government with a fair chance of working successfully. He believed that all fair-minded men would recognize his coming proposals to be "a serious attempt to arrive at an agreement."
