3) Intro of Third HR Bill Flashcards
What was important about the bill? (2)
- Ulster was to be included in a self-governing Ireland
- the imperial government as to have a greater degree of financial control over Ireland
Why does Jalland believe that the liberals introduced this bill
She insisted that Liberal party policy was, ‘the logical consequence of a long-standing commitment’. She concludes that for the sake of honour and conviction it must attempt to secure HR for Ireland
What does Burrell say about HR?
He told Redmond that Home Rule was ‘the live policy of the Party without limitation or restriction’
What personal reasons had Bonar Law for defeating it?
Law had grown up in Ulster (where his father had been a Presbyterian minister) and this made him particularly sympathetic to the claims and outlook of the ulster unionists
Why else did the Conservative party reject this Bill? (2)
- They believed it was the outcome of a ‘corrupt bargain’ between Asquith and Redmond
- the liberals had no mandate to introduce Home Rule since it wasn’t in their manifesto nor had any real enthusiasm for the project
Did Asquith and Redmond take Unionist opposition seriously ? (3)
- Many liberals had convinced themselves that Unionist opposition was somehow ‘artificial’
- Redmond called their opposition ‘bluff and bluster’
- Asquith’s refusal to take hard decisions as well as the influence of Redmond meant that there was no real attempt to face up to the realities of the Ulster situation from the outset
What impact does Jalland believe that this liberal attitude had on the chance of finding a compromise to suit the IPP and unionists?
‘This failure to assess the ulster problem and to examine the possible methods of dealing with it, is surely a severe indictment of the government’
Does Jenkins agree with Jalland’s viewpoint on HR?
Jenkins believes that Ulster Unionist intransigence and Redmond’s need to maintain his credibility as an Irish Nationalist leader made a settlement no more likely in 1912 than in 1914
Name the three senior liberal ministers who were concerned about forcing HR on Ulster
Birrell, Lloyd George and Churchill
What proposal was placed before the liberal cabinet on 6th February 1912 ?
Lloyd George and Churchill presented fresh proposals to the cabinet which called for the exclusion of ulster from ‘the forthcoming bill’
What condition did the cabinet add to the April 1912 Bill?
The government would warn Redmond that it might be necessary to make changes to the hill after its introduction of “fresh evidence of facts, or the pressure of British opinion” dictated, and this could take the form of special treatment for ulster counties
How well informed were the liberals on the strength of unionist feelings against HR?
The government was hearing from Redmond that their opposition was mere bluff, but on the other hand the administration then failed to garner accurate intelligence about the likelihood of trouble in ulster
Describe Asquith’s ‘wait and see policy’
Asquith preferred to sit on the sidelines, allowing a situation to develop before he intervened. This left the way open for Carson and Bonar Law to make the running as the “Ulster Crisis” unfolded
