I will say this--and I hope the House will believe me, because, though I do not want to be introducing my own personality into it, I am myself a southerner in Ireland--I would say this: That if Home Rule is to pass, much as I detest it, and little as I will take any responsibility for the passing of it, my earnest hope, and indeed I would say my most earnest prayer, would be that the Government of Ireland for the South and West would prove, and might prove, such a success in the future, notwithstanding all our anticipations, that it might be even for the interest of Ulster itself to move towards that Government, and come in under it and form one unit in relation to Ireland.

May I say something more than that?
I would be glad to see such a state of things arising in Ireland, in which you would find that mutual confidence and goodwill between all classes in Ireland as would lead to a stronger Ireland as an integral unit in the federal scheme.

While I say all that, that depends upon goodwill, and never can be brought about by force." Redmond remained silent; but months later it became known that he had taken action to foster this new spirit.

He advised the Prime Minister not to proceed with the prosecution which had been threatened against the Larne gun-runners.

But at the same time he urged upon Government that they should withdraw the proclamation against importing arms: and for this he had good reason.