ULSTER'S EXCLUSION.

Auckland Star, Volume XLV, Issue 48, 25 February 1914, Page 5

ULSTER'S EXCLUSION.

BITTER RESENTMENT IN THE WHOLE OF IRELAND. ARMY AND ITS DUTY. (By Cable.—Prees Association.—Copyright.) LONDON, February 24. Sir Horace Plunkett, in a letter to the newspapers, states that the impression is gaining ground that part of Lister may be excluded from the Home Rule proposals. If that were done, half of the inhabitants of Ulster and 99 per cent, of the people of the other provinces would bitterly resent it. It is doubtful if they would accept Home Rule on these terms. Economic thought in agricultural Ireland has advanced so rapidly of recent years that the interests of industry and commerce would be safe, though the rural population would outnumber the urban in representation in the Assembly. A group of Liberals, including Mr Hamar Greenwood (Sunderland) and Mr Eugene Wason (Clackmannan and Kinross), irritated at the Premiers offer to modify the Home Rule Bill, have given notice of an amendment to Mr G. B. Falle's motion (which asks the Government to produce the proposed alterations), calling upon the Government to pass the bill without amendment, and to take steps to protect the lives and property of the loyal majority. General Sir Arthur Paget, speaking at a Dublin dinner to-night, said, "God forbid that it should be my lot to be ordered to move North. Many officers would hate the idea, but if the order comes they know it must be obeyed."

A manifesto by Sir Edward Carson, ■which has been placarded throughout Ulster, denies that the volunteers have been organised with a view to fighting their fellow Ulstermen. Their quarrel is with the Government, and their whole object is to prevent forcible submission to a Dublin Parliament. MR. ASQTJITH STANDS OUT. (Received 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, February 24. Mr. Falles' motion was negatived by 311 to 238. Mr. Asquith refused to participate in the debate on the Ulster proposals. THE COVENANT FORCE. """ FIELD MANOEUVRES. (Times-Sydney Sun Special Cable.) LONDON, February 24. The Ulster volunteer forces are receiving advanced military instruction. They will shortly carry out field operations and manoeuvres on a large Ecalc. The force numbers over 100,000 men.