But it had one notable result.

Mr.Asquith, in replying, announced his intention to visit Ireland and look into the situation for himself.

Within a fortnight--on May 25th--he reported to the House his impressions.
"The first was the breakdown of the existing machinery of the Irish Government; and the next was the strength and depth, and I might almost say, I think without exaggeration, the universality of the feeling in Ireland that we have now a unique opportunity for a new departure for the settlement of outstanding problems, and for a joint and combined effort to obtain agreement as to the way in which the Government of Ireland is for the future to be carried on." He indicated that an attempt would be made to renew negotiations for a settlement which would enable the Home Rule Act to be brought into operation at once; and that Mr.Lloyd George had consented to undertake the task of reconciling parties.

But he begged that there should be no debate upon this proposal or upon Irish affairs at all.

Redmond, in accepting, said that the request for acceptance without discussion was putting the goodwill of Nationalists to a very severe test .-- A discussion would at once have produced this criticism: that Ireland would say to-morrow, "The Parliamentary party brought to Ireland a post-dated order for Home Rule, liable to an indefinite series of postponements: Sinn Fein by a week's rebellion secures that Home Rule shall be brought into force at once." In truth, the rapid growth of Sinn Fein from May 1916 onwards is due largely to this reasoning; but also to resentment against the Government's dealing with the rebellion, and against the Irish party's silence in Parliament in spite of the numerous actions of the military power which called for vigorous criticism.
Irish Nationalist members realized the unpopularity of their silence and submitted to it, for the negotiations appeared to offer a real chance.
We held that Mr.Lloyd George could not afford to fail, and had power enough to carry through a settlement.