later variants of that have been outlined because of the attitude
of Unionists in North-East Ulster, variants which suggest the
partition of Ireland, the elimination of six counties from the
area controlled by the Irish government. This Act, or the variants
of it offered to Ireland, is the British contribution to the
settlement of the Anglo-Irish problem.

13. If it is believed that this scheme, or any diminutive of it,
will settle the Anglo-Irish problem, British statesmen and people who
trust them are only preparing for themselves bitter disappointment.
I believe that nothing less than complete self-government has ever
been the object of Irish Nationalism. However ready certain sections
have been to accept installments, no Irish political leader had
authority to pledge his countrymen to ever accept a half measure
as a final settlement of the Irish claim. The Home Rule Act, if
put into operation tomorrow, even if Ulster were cajoled or coerced
into accepting it, would not be regarded by Irish Nationalists as
a final settlement, no matter what may be said at Westminster.
Nowhere in Ireland has it been accepted as final. Received without
enthusiasm at first, every year which has passed since the Bill
was introduced has seen the system of self-government formulated
there subjected to more acute and hostile criticism: and I believe
it would be perfectly accurate to say that its passing tomorrow
would only be the preliminary for another agitation, made fiercer
by the unrest of the world, where revolutions and the upsetting of
dynasties are in the air, and where the claims of nationalities no
more ancient than the Irish, like the Poles, the Finns, and the Arabs,
to political freedom are admitted by the spokesmen of the great
powers, Great Britain included, or are already conceded. If any
partition of Ireland is contemplated this will intensify the