Redmond and the other Irish members were obliged to go to London and assist for two days at a debate in the worst traditions of the House of Commons.

The change of atmosphere was extraordinary--and the accusations of bad faith were not limited to what passed at Westminster.

One virulent speech declared that the Convention had no prospects, never had any, and was never intended to have any.
This was accompanied by an attack on the action of the Ulster group--based, of course, on hearsay.

Those of us who felt that at any rate the Convention offered a better hope for Ireland than any which now could be based on action at Westminster pleaded for the acceptance of a proposal which Redmond put forward as a compromise--that the proposed Irish clauses should be dropped from the main Bill and the Irish matter dealt with in a separate statute.

It was so agreed at last, and a conference between Irish members, with the Speaker presiding, was set up, and quickly did its work.