But, as the Prime Minister immediately made clear, there was no offer that if this concession were made opposition would cease.

It was merely recommended as the sole alternative to civil war.

Redmond, in following, let fall an _obiter dictum_ on the position of the Irish controversy: "No one who observes the current of popular opinion in this country can doubt for one instant that if this opposition from the north-east corner of Ulster did not exist, Home Rule would go through to-morrow as an agreed Bill." For this reason, he said, he would go almost any length within certain well-defined limits to meet that section of his fellow-countrymen.

His conditions were, first, that the proposal must be a genuine one, not put forward as a piece of tactics to wreck the Bill, but frankly as part of a general settlement of the Home Rule question; secondly, that it must be of reasonable character; and thirdly, not inconsistent with the fundamental principle of national self-government.

Ulster's present proposal, if accepted, carried with it no promise of a settlement; it was unreasonable as proposing to strike out of Ireland five counties with Nationalist majorities.