In bis reply the Prime Minister stated that the opposition
of Belfast was an important factor in the case, and that it had given him and his colleagues very serious ground for reflection. They had provided safeguards, and he would have been glad if the deputation had told him a little more in detail in what respects those safeguards were inadequate. Of course, if they were going to take the position that no safeguards, however carefully devised, would in any circumstances reconcile them to the creation of an Irish Parliament the situation was more difficult. When people were placed on opposite sides of an unbridgeable gulf it was impossible for them ever to find a modes Mvendi. That was the position taken up by the speakers that day. Mr. Asquith ended by saying that speak- ing for himself and his colleagues he could assure the deputation that they desired to arrive at a real settlement of the problem. "Something has got to be done." He could assure them that it was with the greatest regret that he saw this large and representative deputation face to face with so little to offer or to accept either upon the one side or the other. However, "be would not fail to bear in mind, with most serious consideration, the arguments and suggestions which had been addressed to him."
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