Cylchgronau Cymru

THE WELSH OUTLOOK The Editor does not necessarily identify himself with the opinions of contributors to the Welsh Outlook." Editorial responsibility is limited to the views expressed in the Notes of the Month," and in the unsigned article immediately following. NOTES OF THE MONTH Mr. De Valera and the Irish Conference. Mr. De Valera's telegram to the Pope was a serious imprudence, and may have still more serious conse- quences. At the same time, we must endeavour to understand it. lrislunen- and Irish laymen more than Irish priests-strongly object to any intriguing at the Papal Court, and they seem to believe (probably quite wrongly) that the Pope's letter to King George was inspired by some English emissary. Irish lay Catholics, knowing what has happened in the past, feel very much as Welsh Calvin- istic Methodists would have felt if the leaders of the denomination had written officially to the English Church leaders at the time of the Disestablishment agitation. Mr. De Valera in his letter represents this feeling. None the less it is most unfortunate that he should have intervened at an-for by his action he has played completely into the hands of the English die- hards, put the Premier, who has saved the situation more than once, in a very difficult position, and brought Ireland perceptibly nearer to the brink of a terrible Civil War. We still hope and believe the Conference will continue, but even if for the moment it breaks up, we pray that the common Christianity of both islands will find some way of escape from the horrors of a fratricidal contest, from which the British Empire can reap no honour. Welsh Autonomy. Although the Prime Minister's sug- gestion to the Welsh members that they should try to agree among themselves on some scheme of Welsh devolution was more or less in the nature of an after-dinner inspiration, it has produced quite definite and serious reactions both within the party and in the country. Welsh Home Rule has been for years a kind of blessed catchword, always at hand for the use of intellectually sterile politicians who wished to flavour oratorical inanities with a strong spice of nationalism. The Prime Minister has hinted that the time has come when it ought to be regarded as something more than a platform condiment, NOVEMBER, 1921. and, as we always expected, the result in some places, has been consternation. Some representatives of rural constituencies are already soundly declaring that they, and those they represent, will have nothing to do with it. They would, indeed, it appears, prefer Zulu domination to that of Glamorganshire and Mon- mouthshire. We always suspected that this would be the result when the time arrived for practical experi- ment, and have consequently in and out of season pleaded for more study and less talk. We venture to state that the Labour Party, through its Machinery of Government Committee," has collected more in- formation in regard to Welsh Home Rule, and given more thought to the issues involved in eighteen months, than Welshmen and their Parliamentary representatives have in a generation, and now elementary questions of representation are frightening many of them out of their wits. We are glad to know, however, that the Welsh Party intend to go into the question thoroughly, and we think the mooted suggestion that a committee of mem- bers of the party and experts outside the party should be appointed to explore the whole subject an admirable one. A very considerable amount of matter was col- lected by a small informal group years ago, and this should be secured at once. But, above all, the awakening in the country is significant. The Llandrin- dod Convention four years ago appointed a Home Rule Committee, which apparently can not, or will not, be convened, but if it does not meet within a reasonable time, its place will be taken by another, and quite possibly a more effective one. Local opinion in favour of Home Rule is also becoming very definite, as is shown, for instance, by its inclusion in the admirable questionnaire issued by the Cardiff Cymmrodorion Society to the candidates in the city municipal elections. When real investigation and research has made the position clear, and removed the timidity of those who fear industrial domination, we have no doubt whatever of the practical unanimity of Wales on the subject, but the work of investigation should be commenced forth-