We have quoted elsewhere verbatim the most important part of
Mr. Winston Churchill's speech in regard to Ulster. We shall not say anything about the rest. We could not do so with- out controversy, and controversy at the moment is what we wish to avoid. At the conclusion of the speech Mr. Churchill had an interview with the representative of the Daily Mail.
Mr. Churchill, we are told, expressed his strong belief that a settlement of the Irish question would be attained before long. We agree, provided that Mr. Churchill has his colleagues behind him, and does not let the pressure which is certain to be put upon him from many quarters deflect him from his present good purpose. Mr. Churchill pointed out that Mr. F. E. Smith had made on behalf of Mr. Bonar Law an offer for a Con- ference on the basis of the exclusion of those parts of Ulster
which are homogeneous in their views. "Mr. Churchill, for the Government, offers conciliation on the basis of the exclu- sion of North-East Ulster. Little therefore appears to separate the two political leaders, and lovers of peace may well share. Mr. Churchill's own optimism." The Daily Mail corre- spondent adds :— " Mr. Churchill's speech, I have authority for stating, is to be taken as the official attitude of the Government towards Ulster, and that attitude is one of conciliation and an offer of the exclusion of North-East Ulster from the Home Rule Bill on condition that Unionists then agree to work with Liberals for the future success of the settlement."
