But there was a Liberal element evidently not convinced that Home Rule might not be possible with Ulster excluded.

Mr.Birrell admitted that the plan of segregating a portion had been considered, but had been rejected, on the merits, as unworkable.

Still he professed himself open to conviction.

The argument which Mr.Bonar Law decided to use was a threat.

Government are saying to the people of Ulster, he said, "Convince us that you are in earnest, show us that you will fight, and we will yield to you as we have yielded to everybody else." Captain Craig, following, said that the Prime Minister anticipated that Ulster's objection would after a few years be merely a ripple on the surface.