Speaking for the Ulster Unionists, Sir John Lonsdale said it
was his duty to state that they could not and would not be driven into a Home Rule Parliament, and, relied absolutely on the pledges given by the Prime Minister and his predecessor that they shook( not be coerced. Their conviction that Home Rule would endanger the security of the Empire, and subvert the best interests both of Ireland and the United Kingdom, had ouly been strengthened by the events of the last three years. They had ma..de great ocameaaion,s last July to facilitate a settlement ; the new proposals involved further concessions, and the House would understand that he was not in a position to pledge the people of Ulster to agree. to them without their consent. On this matter of the definite exeleilien of the six counties area he did not think there -was the slightest- prospect of any change in the attitude of the Ulster people, nor could he feel sanguine that the Convention would fulfil the hoped of the Prime Minister. But speaking for his colleagues as well as himself, they would not take the responsibility of closing the door upon the experiment. They would -lay the matter before the people whom they represented and abide by the result.
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