the dominions should be held to consider the future government of the empire, including the future government of Ireland. On the strength of that agreement they went to their constituents and got them to agree, although it was no easy task.

He confessed that he could not understand the bill. In his judgment it was conceived in Bedlam. Everybody and everything but Ireland counted in the bill. Irish opinion and sentiment, Irish grievances and the permanent solution of Irish difficulties-none of those matters was considered at all. He intimated that the Premier's first idea in introducing the bill was to satisfy American sentiment, to satisfy labor opinion and to secure the moral sanction of the world for a reasonable effort to solve the Irish problem. (Mr. Lloyd George shook his head.) Did anybody think the bill would touch the imagination or command the good-will of the American people?

Mr. Devlin said many taunts had been hurled against Irishmen for contributing nothing to a solution of this problem. One would imagine that the Irish Convention was an organized and riotous assembly of discordant Irishmen. It was nothing of the sort. More than twothirds of the convention, consisting of Southern Unionists, Ulster Labor men, and the Nationalists, agreed in favor of one Legislature for all Ireland. The only point on which there was any difference was the question of the customs. At the convention national unity was regarded as sacrosanct, and the Nationalists were anxious to make any sacrifice to get Ulster in. The Ulster representatives, on the other hand, would not say what they wanted. They never moved a single inch. They stood today precisely where they stood for the last thirty years, with this in their favor, that they threatened a rebellion and succeeded. A minority rebelled, and it got what it wanted; a majority rebelled, and was put in prison.

They were told they would have union through the operation of the Central Council proposed by the bill, and it was argued that the whole responsibility for the conduct of the Central Council would

rest with the Orangemen in the North and with the Nationalists in the South. Unity was to be secured by giving twenty-six counties precisely the same representation on the National Council as six counties, and the spirit of the six counties was shown by Captain Craig's statement that there would not be unity in the lifetime of the youngest member in the House. He could conceive of no plan which would contribute more largely to the poisoning still further of the wellsprings of harmony and concord in Ireland itself and in the relationship between this country and Ireland.

The Catholics in the six counties represented 34 per cent. of the population. They were to be placed under an Ulster Parliament. He would be under the jurisdiction of that Parliament, and if ever it were set up he would go over and break every law in Ulster. In that Parliament the Unionists would have such perfect electoral and gerrymandering machinery as to secure a majority. It would merely be an enlarged edition of the Belfast Town Council.

Passing to the areas of the two Parliaments, Mr. Devlin said that Providence had arranged the geography of Ireland, and the Government had altered it. They had sacrificed geography for Parliamentary euphony. They had placed Donegal in the south of Ireland. They might send their Sir Nevil Macready to Ireland; they might send over the whole army and navy, but might was right only for a time. Let them not think that they were going to preserve militarism in Ireland among a peaceful and law-abiding, among a Christian and virtuous people, among even, if they would, a Conservative people. Great problems were solved and nations' heart desires were only satisfied by a recognition of the spirit of justice and by the concession of freedom.

The attitude of the Sinn Fein leaders toward the Government bill was one of unyielding opposition; they declared that no Home Rule bill would prove acceptable, and that they would be satisfied with nothing short of independence and the recognition of an Irish Republic.

Northern Ireland consists of the Parliamentary counties of Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Londonderry and Tyrone, and the Parliamentary boroughs of Belfast and Londonderry. The rest is Southern Ireland.

II. The Council-1. The Council of Ireland, to be constituted as soon as may be after the appointed day, to bring about harmonious action between the Parliaments, to promote mutual intercourse and uniformity in matters affecting all Ireland, and to administer services mutually agreed upon or assigned to it by this act.

2. The Council, in the first instance, to be the King, as President, and twenty members of each House of Commons, chosen as each house may determine; this to be the first business of each House of Commons.

3. The Constitution of the Council may be varied by identical acts of the two Parliaments, which may provide for all or any of its members to be elected by Parliamentary electorate.

III. Parliament for All Ireland-1. The two Parliaments by identical acts may establish in lieu of the Council of Ireland a Parliament for the whole of Ireland, consisting of the King and one or two houses. The whole Constitution of this Parliament as to members, mode of election or appointment, and, if there are two Houses, their relations to one another, are to be determined by the Provincial Parliaments. The date at which the Parliament of Ireland is to be established is afterward referred to as the date of Irish union.

2. On the date of Irish union the Parliament of Ireland receives the powers of the Council, all matters which at that date cease to be reserved under this act and any powers conferred by the Provincial Parliaments.

3. All the powers of the Provincial Parliaments pass to the Parliament of Ireland, except so far as the constituent acts otherwise provide, and, if no powers are reserved, the constituent acts must settle financial relations between the Exchequers.

4. If any powers are reserved at first they may be transferred by identical acts later, when the Provincial Parliaments would cease to exist.

LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY

IV. Reserved Powers - 1. The Provincial Parliaments have full powers within their respective areas, except in respect of:

(1) Crown succession, &c.

(2) Peace or war or matters arising from a state of war, or the regulation of the conduct of subjects toward hostilities between foreign States.

(3) Navy, army, pensions, &c.

(4) Treaties of foreign relations or relations with the Dominions, extradition, or the return of fugitive offenders. (5) Dignities or titles of honor. (6) Treason, naturalization, aliens, &c. (7) Trade external to the area (except as affected by the powers of taxation given or agencies for the improvement or protection of trade), export bounties, quarantine or navigation, except inland waters.

(8), (9), (10) and (11) Cables, wireless, aerial navigation, lighthouses, &c.

(12) and (13) Coinage measures, trade marks, copyrights, patents, &c., and

(14) Any matter reserved by this act. V. Religious Freedom-1. This clause forbids either Parliament to make a law "" so as either directly or indirectly to establish or endow any religion or prohibit or restrict the free exercise thereof or give a preference, privilege, or advantage or impose any disability or disadvantage on account of religious belief.

VI. Conflict of Laws-1. The Irish Parliaments have no power to repeal or alter any act passed by the Parliament of the United Kingdom after the appointed day, though it deal with a matter with respect to which they have power to make laws. 2. Where an act of either Irish Parliament conflicts with an Imperial act, it is void so far as it conflicts.

VII. Provision for Private Bills This clause assigns to the Council of Ireland power of private bills legislation affecting both areas.

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VIII. Executive Authority-The executive power and prerogative of the Crown vested in the Lord Lieutenant, and are to be exercised through such departments as may be established by each Provincial Parliament. The Lord Lieutenant may appoint officers to administer those departments, and those officers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Lord Lieutenant." The heads of departments and such others as the Lord Lieutenant may appoint are the Provincial Ministers.

A Provincial Minister must be a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, must not hold office more than six months unless he is or becomes a member of the Provincial House of Commons, and if he is not the head

The seat of government in each province is to be determined by the province.

"Irish services" in each province include all civil government, except as restricted or reserved by this act.

IX. Police, Appointment of Justices-1. The Royal Irish Constabulary and the Metropolitan Police, and the administration of acts relating thereto, including the appointment and the removal of magistrates, are reserved until transferred by Order in Council to the Provincial Parliaments, but not longer than three years after the appointed day. If transferred after the date of Irish union, however, they go to the Government of All Ireland, unless otherwise provided by the constituent acts.

or revenue

3. The postal service, post office, and trustee savings banks, postal stamps and the Public Record Office of Ireland are reserved until the date of Irish union, when, so far as they are within the powers of the Irish Parliament, they are to be transferred to the Government of Ireland. They are, however, to be transferred before the date of Irish union to the Council of Ireland if the two Provincial Parliaments so provide by identical acts.

4. The general subject matter of the Land Purchase act is reserved until transferred by an imperial act of Parliament, but the reservation does not include the powers of the Congested Districts Board, with a financial exception, nor does it include the powers of the Irish Land Commission as to the collection and recovery of purchase annuities.

X. Powers of the Irish Council-1. The Provincial Parliaments, by identical acts, may delegate any of the provincial powers to the Council.

2. The powers of the Imperial Parliament over railways, including legislation, transferred to the Irish Council.

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3. The Council has various deliberative and advisory functions as to the welfare of both provinces, including the recommendation of identical acts to delegate desirable powers from the Provincial Parliaments to the Council.

4. Orders of the Council of a legislative character are to be presented to the Lord Lieutenant for the Royal assent as if they were bills.

THE TWO PARLIAMENTS

XI. and XII. A Session Every Year-There must be a session every year with less than twelve months between summons, prorogation and dissolution by the Lord Lieutenant. Royal assent to bills is to be given by the Lord Lieutenant subject to instructions from the Crown and reservations, if directed by the Crown, for the direct Royal assent.

XIII. Number of M. P.'s: P. R. ElectionsThe House of Commons of Southern Ireland to have 128 members and that of Northern Ireland to have 52.

General elections by proportional representation, single transferable vote.

The term of each Parliement is to be five years, unless sooner dissolved. After three years from the first meeting each Parliament may alter the whole election law except as to the number of members of Parliament.

XIV. Election Laws-All existing election laws apply except as altered by this act or by the Provincial Parliaments under this act.

XV. Money Bills-The Provincial Parliaments may not pass money bills, &c., except in pursuance of a recommendation from the Lord Lieutenant in the session in which they are proposed.

XVI. Privileges-The privileges of each Parliament and its members are never to exceed those of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and are to be the same as those until defined by acts of the Provincial Parliaments. Peers may be members of the House

of Commons.

XVII. Irish M. P.'s at Westminster-Until the Parliament of the United Kingdom otherwise determines there are to be forty-two Irish members in the Imperial Parliament. The present members of the House of Commons are to vacate their seats on the appointed day and writs are to be issued for the election of new ones.

FINANCIAL PROVISIONS

XVIII. Finance-There is to be a Consolidated Fund for each of the two areas. The Parliaments have power to make laws imposing, charging, levying and collecting taxes other than customs duties, excise duties on articles manufactured and produced, and excess profits duty and the United Kingdom income tax. But,

The imposing, charging, levying and collection of customs duties and of excise duties on articles manufactured and produced, and the granting of customs and excise drawbacks and allowances, and, except to the extent hereinafter mentioned, the imposing, charging, levying and collection of income tax (including supertax) and excess profits duty, shall be

reserved matters and the proceeds of those duties and taxes shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United King

dom.

The Joint Exchequer Board is to determine what part of the proceeds of these duties are properly attributable to Ireland. Each year Ireland is to make a contribution toward Imperial liabilities. For the first two years this is to be £18,000,000. Of this contribution for the first two years Southern Ireland will provide 56 per cent. and Northern Ireland 44 per cent., after which the proportions will be determined by the Joint Exchequer Board. Every year a sum equal to the Irish share of reserved taxes is to be paid out of the United Kingdom Consolidated Fund to the Irish Exchequers, after deducting the amount of the Irish contribution toward Imperial liabilities, and while any services remain reserved the net cost of these will be deducted.

XIX. Income Tax-The Irish Parliaments are to have power to impose an additional income tax or super tax, to be called a surtax. The land purchase annuities are to be collected by the Irish Governments and paid into the appropriate account. Provisions are made against double death duties and SO forth.

A clause enacts that after the date of Irish Union the question of allowing Ireland control over customs and excise may be considered.

XX. Supreme Court-The Supreme Court of Ireland will cease to exist and there will be two Supreme Courts, one for Southern Ireland and one for Northern Ireland. All matters relating to these Supreme Courts are "reserved matters " until the date of Irish Union, but here again identical acts passed by both Parliaments might secure their amalgamation. Existing Judges and civil servants are secured in their office.

All existing laws, institutions and authorities are to be continued with the necessary modifications until altered so far as they can be altered within the powers of the Parliaments.

The existing exemptions and immunities of Dublin University, Trinity Col

lege and Queen's University at Belfast are to continue; £18,000 is to be appropriated by the Northern Parliament for Queens University and £5,000 by the Southern Parliament for Trinity. Both Parliaments are forbidden to enact laws prejudicial to Free Masons. The final provisions of the bill are as follows:

The Appointed Day-1. This act shall, except as expressly provided, come into operation on the appointed day, and the appointed day for the purposes of this act shall be the first Tuesday in the eighth month after the month in which this act is passed, or such other day not more than seven months earlier or later, as may be fixed by Order of his Majesty in Council either generally or with reference to any particular provision of this act, and different days may be appointed for different purposes and different provisions of this act, but the Parliaments of Southern and Northern Ireland shall be summoned to meet not later than four months after the said Tuesday, and the appointed day for holding elections for the House of Commons of Southern and Northern Ireland shall be fixed accordingly:

Provided that the appointed day as respects the transfer of any service may, at the joint request of the Governments of Southern Ireland and Northern Ireland be fixed at a date later than seven months after the said Tuesday.

2. Nothing in this act shall affect the administration of any service before the day appointed for the transfer of that service from the Government of the United Kingdom.

Supremacy of Westminster-Notwithstanding the establishment of the Parliaments of Southern and Northern Ireland, or the Parliament of Ireland, or anything contained in this act, the supreme authority of the Parliament of the United Kingdom shall remain unaffected and undiminished over all persons, matters and things in Ireland and every part thereof.

Repeal of 1914 Act-1. This act may be cited as the Government of Ireland act, 1920. 2. The Government of Ireland act, 1914, is hereby repealed.

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ITH its machinery practically completed, and strengthened by the accession of new members, the League of Nations continued in March and April its discussions of international affairs.

A joint scheme for the establishment of a permanent international Court of Justice was drawn up by a conference of representatives of the Scandinavian countries, Switzerland and the Netherlands, which concluded its labors on Feb. 27. The chief points of the program agreed upon were as follows:

Complete equality of the States for the appointment of judges and deputy judges who will be elected by the League of Nations.

Elimination of all political influences. from the court and its sphere of action. Complete independence of the judge in the exercise of his functions as regards the State to which he belongs.

The recommendation with regard to candidate to be made by the States which belong to the league.

The highest judiciary and administrative authorities and the Faculties of law of the universities of the States belonging to the league to assist in the composition of the lists of candidates.

The judges to be elected for nine years or for life and reside at the headquarters of the court.

Even those States which are not members of the league to have the right to plead before the court.

The court only to recognize private interests in so far as the States to which the individuals concerned belong take upon themselves the task of defending these interests.

The court only to deal with disputes of an international character.

The methods of procedure to be analogous to those adopted in the conventions of the second Peace Conference at The Hague in 1907.

Each party to pay its own costs.

THE COMMISSION TO RUSSIA The Executive Council of the League held its third sitting in the Clock Room of the French Foreign Office on March 13.

The members were the same as at

previous meetings, except that Mr. Balfour represented Great Britain, Mr. Tittoni Italy, and M. Athos Romanos Greece, replacing M. Venizelos. Mr. Balfour took a prominent part in the discussion, which was devoted to the question of sending a Commission of Investigation to Soviet Russia under the League, as asked by a note from the allied Premiers early in March.

Mr. Balfour expounded his views amid keen attention. He proposed that the League should constitute the commission under the protection of the Supreme Council, but with its mandate from the League, to insure the impartiality and authoritativeness which the allied Council desired; that it should consist of ten members, each assisted by two counselors, and that two members-an employer and a workman-should be proposed by the International Labor Bureau. M. Chardigny, formerly French Consul in Russia, had been already chosen as Secretary General. Mr. Balfour explained that he foresaw no difficulty from the fact that the International Labor Bureau was sending a similar commission, provided that its activities were limited to labor problems. The employer and workman members of the League Commission would supply the necessary link.

Mr. Balfour's proposals met with unanimous approval by the League Executive Council, and it was decided to send the following telegram to the Soviet authorities:

The Council of the League of Nations, having been invited to consider the possibility of dispatching a commission to Russia, has decided to constitute a commission with the view to collecting impartial and trustworthy information of the actual state of that country. The permanent Secretariat of the League is charged to inquire of the Soviet authorities if they are prepared to recognize the right of the commission to cross without hindrance the frontiers, going and coming; to take