CHAIRMANSHIP OF L.C.C. 295 



If Irish members are to be left to manage Irish affairs, 

 then surely we ought to be left to manage ours. 



But if there are to be separate Legislatures for Gt. 

 Britain and for Ireland, as well as a supreme Parliament, 

 — that would be not Home Rule, but Federalism. 



I have over and over again expressed my opinion 

 that Federalism is not open to the same objections as 

 Home Rule, though it presents of course great diffi- 

 culties. But it is unnecessary to discuss them, as 

 Federalism has not been proposed by any leading 

 English Statesman. — I am, yours faithfully, 



John Lubbock. 



Presumably it is Mr. Reid, who, on the back 

 of this letter, has made the following note : 



This letter is so well put together, cutting out very 

 sharply the blocks of stone, that I do trust you will let 

 me publish it. I can then publish Mr. Gladstone's 

 communication as it is written to me, and your reply 

 to that. Mr. Parnell may also join in the matter. 



I cannot very well publish copy of Mr. Gladstone's 

 letter unless you consent to references to you which he 

 makes, and which I must leave out. There can be no 

 objection, if you wish, to your seeing his letter any more 

 than there can be to Mr. G.'s seeing yours, for they are 

 both on public matters. 



After the turn of the year we find Mr. Reid 

 following up this correspondence with some 

 further letters which have for their purpose to 

 draw Sir John once more into the Gladstonian 

 fold. He commences by congratulating Sir John 

 on being a member of the Privy Council. He 

 points out what a powerful assistance Sir John 

 might bring to the Home Rule cause if he could 

 be induced to reconsider his attitude towards it, 

 and goes on to say that he would very much like 

 to ask Mr. Parnell if he does now, or ever did, 

 insist upon a fixed contribution. Mr. Gladstone, 



