The Sun MONDAY, MAY 25, 1914. THE IRISH SITUATION.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 92, 25 May 1914, Page 6

The Sun MONDAY, MAY 25, 1914. THE IRISH SITUATION.

The Irish situation has changed rapidly for the worse, and fears are expressed in to-day's cable news that the passage of the Home Rule Bill tomorrow may see the outbreak of serious disorder in the North of Ireland. A highly provocative ."order." has been issued to commanders of "Covenanter" regiments, and if the jubilation of the Nationalists takes the form of the slightest violation of Orange territory there is bound to be trouble. It should be explained, perhaps, for those unfamiliar with the situation, that certain areas and streets in Belfast are "orange," and other areas and streets are '' green." As as the rival factions keep within bounds and do not attempt processions a id demonstrations in one another's territory there is less likelihood of their coming to blows. To cause a riot it is merely necessary for an orange or a green procession, as the case may be, to step over the border and march down one of the enemy's streets. The Nationalists, at the bidding, no doubt, of their leaders, have been bottling their feelings very creditably, but it is rather much to expect that the- passage of Home .Rule for which they have been fighting for a generation, shall be unaccompanied by any p-iibiu demonstration. Yet, in the present condition of Ulster, a very small spark will be sufficient to set the country ablaze. The position of the Liberal Government las undoubtedly been weakened by the serious defeat sustained at Ipswich. The Unionists have captured the seat with a majority of 522 over tlbs Liberal, candidate, nd 137 over the ,Liber.il and Socialist forces combined. Not even the intervention of Mr Lloyd George and his unworthy attempt ,to foment class hatred in the hope that it would express itself in Liberal votes, could save the situation. A vieto.y such as this is an encouragement to the Unionists to gamble on winning the election and sink or swim with Ulster. If they win tlxcy !ouid repeal Home Rule and jenew the Balfour policy of coercion in -„lie South of Ireland, but if they lose they would go down in the general wreck which would be brought about by civil war. It is an anxious time for all parties.