[ 27 1] 
reconsideration of the question of exclusion by the 
Imperial Parliament, and it at least makes some 
pretence of preserving the integrity of the Nation 
by the establishment of a Coalition Council for all 
Ireland. But events have travelled rapidly since 
Mr. Lloyd George's first proposal was accepted, 
from all quarters, Nationalist and Unionist, has 
come a vehement protest against even a temporary 
mutilation of Ireland. 
The memorandum of the Irish bishops, Catholic 
and Protestant, is a notable illustration of the strength 
of feeling on the subject. The suggested dismember- 
ment of the country was largely responsible for the 
srowth of the Sinn Fein movement. In a self- 
governed Ireland that movement would rapidly 
disappear. Mr. Lloyd George is too intelligent not 
to have known that the Irish Party could not now 
accept a policy of dismemberment if they would, and 
that they would not if they could. His real proposal 
was in the postscript of his letter to Mr. Redmond ; 
“The assembling of a Convention of Irishmen of all 
parties for the purpose of producing a scheme of 
[rish Self-Goverment.” At such a Convention in no 
quarter will the mutilation of Ireland find support, 
and the Nationalists will be eager to make all pos- 
sible concessions to secure a United Ireland. It is 
to be hoped the Convention will be thoroughly 
representative of all shades of Irish opinion. For 
Chairman, General Smutts would be an admirable 
selection. 
There was much to be said for the genuine policy of 
the Unionists, Mr. Balfour, in a recent speech, most 
eloquently lamented the lost hope that Ireland, like 
Scotland, might grow prosperous and contented under 
the existing form of government. But there is nothing 
to be said from any point of view in favour of the 
policy of exclusion when it has once failed as a 
tactical stratagem to avert the concession of Home 
ule.