PEACE OR WAR?

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 105, 9 June 1914, Page 5

PEACE OR WAR?

THE ULSTER QUESTION. HISTORIC DEBATE IN THE HOTJSE. A graphic account of the debate in the House of Commons on April 28 was published in the London "Daily News." The debate, which is one of many historic debates 011 the Home Rule question, arose after the publication of the sensational accounts *of the gun-running to Ulster. Mr Chamberlain had spoken for more j than an hour and a half on the vote of censure. He had retailed with com- . mendable accuracy the two-page analy- ' sis of the "plot ,, \wßich /^he.,Times" published on Monday, and, 1*34 demanded an impartial•enquiry. - But his ihdletnient "was • aside- by Mr Cliurchill as while, as Eor the enquiry, it was of censure by th 6 criminal classes on the police." How easily the House might have been aroused to. passion was seen at questions. "Is it wise," asked Mr i Crooks, "to disclose the movements of armed forces of the Crown'' —he waved his hands towards the Opposition—'' to his Majesty's enemies?" "Was the | fleet intended to bombard Belfast ? " was the of Colonel Yate. "If| not, what was the fleet for! " MR CHAMBERLAIN'S CASE. "Seized" has been a password today, -It was the key to Mr Chamberlain's attitude. . "The troops," said he indignantly, /'seized the important strategic points in Ulster." It was thus a provocative act to move the King's soldiers in "the King's dominions! "Why not?" asked Liberals. ' 1 Why ' seize' ? " Sir William Byles asking coolly "Are these the King's troops?" ' Mr Chamberlain failed to graSp the interruption. "What about the seizure of Dundalk and Newry?" he cried. Again Liberals put the question. "Why seizure?" and Mr Churchill rose. '' There were three batteries there,'' said he, "accompanied only by drivers, and, therefore, in the military sense, defenceless against attack. > ■ * "Attack from whom?" asked Mr Chamberlain, with the injured innocence of Lord Castlereagh himself. And he was 'pained by the volleys, of laughter which overtook the remark. PREMIER'S RETORT. Mr Asquith stepped to the table. Indicating Sir Edward Carson, he said sharply: —• "The offer was called a hypocritical sham." "Not at that time," retorted Lord Robert Cecil, and much to Mr Chanjberlain's relief. "It was/said about our proposals," answered the Prime Minister, with emphasis, and -Mr Chamberlain hurried on to Jiis next point. He was angry about General Macready being appointed a magistrate. At this "the Nationalists cheered loudly, calling "Balfour" —for they remember how that statesman did not hesitate to send military magistrates to the Catholic provinces. "A 'loyalist' population," went on Mr Chamberlain, amid shouts of ironical cheering. "Yes," he cried fiercely. "I said 'loyalist,' and I mean it." BRILLIANT .ATTACK. To present a new offer of peace in such an atmosphere was a task demanding courage. Mr Churchill prepared the ground with a brilliantly phrased party attack. "Audacious!" he began. "Impudent!—this vote of censure by men fresh from gun-running exploits. Complainants should come into court with clean hands." lie read'the statute which classes intimidation of Parliament with hideous felonies like destroying the Throne and calling in the foreign invader. "Subi c'.ihoiit facts! " lie cried, answering Mr Cii:' mberlain. "But was the gnnruTiiiiiif a subsequent fact?" He quoted liiO speech*of Sir Edward Carson at the Caiu-.j-.i Sheet Hotel on February 18, is: which, at that- early date, he had i-c:l or, expenditure of £60,000 to ~ on military material. hy -lon 'i you arrest?" called out - -hat. <omplaint?" retorted ■ ' • That we have been too

lenient? It is the only accusation that I am not prepared to answer." "The Tory Party," he went on, "is comfortable and wealthy." "No, no," cried the Tory.Party, in repudiation bf the soft impeachment. ' TORY RESPONSIBILITY.

"Yet yon are committed to naked resolution—'to" tampering with the diseipMne of the Army and the Navy"— this was the point that went home —"to obstructing the King's highwayscoercing the King's servants —to smuggling in arms —to piracy on ships. The party as a whole is responsible.'' "The great democracy is watching — so often we urge these millions to be patient with ;their bare necessities of life; the audience in India —in Egypt — all aye, watching; noting—native soldiers, native officers —the devastating doctrines of Mr Bonar Law."

"I thank God," exclaimed Mr Churchill', "that I have not to play for the stakes to which you are committed. 'We are Tories,' you" say, 'no laws apply to us. Laws are made for working people—to keep,them in their proper places. We are the dominant classy and it will be time enough for us to talk about Law and Order when we get back to office." They became very restive under this. "First came Sir Edward Carson —frankly trying to shout down Mr Churchill. "Behave like a King!" called a Liberal." The Ulster Leader turned on him in fury. "Behave likp a cad!" was his repartee, and Mr MacCallum Scott appealed jto the Speaker. The Chair took the the un-Parliamentary expression was condoned by provocation. Sir Clement Kinloch-Cooke asked if Mr Churchill's argument was relevant to the motion. "A little patience,'' said the Speaker, good-humouredly, "and the right hon. gentleman will come to the subject ; matter.'' | ( NO VETO BY FORCE. j "All this is relevant to the great ;issu6," answered Mr Churchill. "It is ! not Ulster only, but the use of the j Orange army to break Liberalism—to ; substitute for the veto of the Lords the i veto of force." Any idea of coercing | Ulster for six years 'had been removed jby the Prime Minister's offer. "What we have to do is to prevent Ulster coercing us. If that be the challenge, we i fight to the end.'' "If the rebels Use their rifles," declared Mr Churchill, "we shall strike back with every man and gun at our command. If troops are attacked and fired at there will be condign punishment with the full rigour of the law. If this does not happen, then. nothing-will happen on our part either. The use of force rests with. you." ' '

"I don't believe in civil war and rebellion," he continued, "but if it comes we shall put it down." PEACE OFFER.

Then came the offer. At the first hint of it Lord Robert Cecil broke into scoffing. And Liberals cried, "Laughing at peace."

Oh, no! that was not the case. Lord Robert explained that he was laughing at Mr Churchill's manner. Yet it was a worthy manner. There was a sentence or two about the ill-consequences of the situation abroad.

"Who brought it about?" shouted Mr Rowland Hunt, but Mr Churchill went on, quietly:— "Foreign countries do not realise that at the first hint of complications all our domestic differences will disappear under what I may call the higher principle of hatred!" Why does not Sir Edward Carson take the risks for peace that lie takes in the other direction? The key was in his hands. Let him propose his own safeguards for Ulster the House listened eagerly—this on condition that he afterwards co-operate in developing a federal scheme with Ireland as a unit. So let us escape from "these hideous and hateful moves." INSULTING EPISODES.

So ended the speech; but what of the sequel? There was a succession of insults from the Tory side. Mr MitchellThompson began with "deliberately misleading." Lord Charles Beresford stated that Mr Churchill was '' a failure when he was in the 4tli Hussars," which led to a scene. "What officer has seen more active service than the First Lord?" asked Mr Haraar Greenwood. "There is no one.''

"I am not attacking his pluck." Great anger arose at this, some members shouting, "Shocking bad taste"; others, "You dare not say it to his face''; others, '' There are .tfailures in the " which last was intended for Lord Charles Beresforcl's special consumption. "Liberals will swallow anything from

Marconis to massacres," said Sir Reginald Pole-Car ew, with the courtesy that distinguishes him. * Colonel Seely, speaking from a back bench, promised; to support the* Government and "the plot," which, said he, "still stapds." '-.Mr "A's)quitlC?-cl£#r6d approvingly. ' "• 15 " So the debate stood adjourned.