On the 17th there was allusion to another growing element of danger--the discussions among officers of the Army of a combined refusal to serve against Ulster.

All these factors must have weighed with Redmond and with his chief colleagues in their discussions with the Government during the next three weeks.

"Friendly consideration" passed into acceptance on March 9th, when Mr.Asquith, introducing the Home Rule Bill for its passage in the third consecutive session (as required by the Parliament Act), outlined the proposed modifications in it.

They involved partition.

But the exclusion was to be optional by areas and limited in time.
The proposal to take a vote by counties had, it will be remembered, been originally suggested by Mr.Bonar Law, and in following the Prime Minister he could not well repudiate it.