FIERY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2016, 25 March 1914, Page 7

FIERY DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT.

ON ULSTER CRISIS,

STRONG ATTACK ON THE GOVERNMENT.

BY UNIONIST LEADERS.

OFFICERS APFEASEft By Telegraph-Press Associati'ciii-COTirtijfh* (Rec. March 25, 1.10 a.m.) London, Mawdi 24. J. lie House of Commons was crowded to-day when Mr. Boiiar law, Leader of the Unionists, raised a discussion on the Ulster crisis. Tins Prime Minister (Mr. Asquith), and the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Lloyd George) were cheered as they entered, and there were cries of "Limehonse!" Mr. Asqnith, in reply to Mr. Bonar Law, promised further facilities for the discussion of the Ulster situation if, after Colonel Secly's (Secretary of State for War) statement, Mr. Bpnar Law thought it necessary. A Statement. Colonel Seely stated that somo of tlio officers had informed Sir Arthur Pnaet that the.y_ would not serve, in certain eventualities. There was a misaiHl.ca> standing, and ttese officers had boon ordered to rejoin their trnits. 110 moveof troops was solely to protect I the Government arms and ammunition. ■Mr. Eonar Law asked for further discussion.

Mr. Asquith then moved tho adjournment of tlio House "Paltering With the Bowse." Opposing tho motion for a<ijouMimmit f Mr. Bonar_ Law said that- this was tho most amazing instance of a Government Paltering with tlio House of Cdinmous. liio danger of the Army being destroyed before their eyes, camo en the doverumeutliko a bait from the bkro. He had received proof that other than cavalry regiments had tendered their resignations. Tho speaker read a letter stating that tlio officers who. did not fight -aijainst Ulster would bo dismissed. The moving ©f troops by the Government, ho said, was foolish, as no new- situation had arisen.

. Tho Unionist LcaiJej- alsp read a letter containing a statement which Sir Arthur- Paaet was reported: t<) have mado .to'_ tlie officers at- tlio Curragn, to the effect that active operations were to begin against Ufeter ; tint ho expected the country to be ablate! by Satttrday; that he was in dose eoiiiniuliieation with tlio War ofifc B) and that lie had received instructions to report there. Mr. Bonar Law added that it would bo difficult for Mr. Aeqiiitfi to convince the House' that, with or without his knowledge,' soaio of liis eoftmfiues did not mako tho movement of the troops as part of a concerted plan to provoke or intimidate Ulster.

Mr. Bonar Law OontiAnocl: "It is impossible that General β-auglrs dismissal could liavo been duo to a misconception. Tlic country has a right, to knortv- tlio terms of his reinstatement."- Tlio speaker asked tho. Premier,to say, openly, that tho officer Jn.qtiestigii fiart tocii reinstated on the. distinct iii.i/l<;rstanding tli.it lip would not bo asked to iisss Ins troop:} to' enforce Homo , ftnlo. Officers who refused on conecfentjo.jis grounds should 1)6 permitted te resign without forfeiting flioir pensions. 'Hi* present situation had arisen from the Government attempting to coerce part of tins population without thtv authority of the electors.

Tho reading of tlio letter smsod greatexcitement.

Mr. -Balfour said that undmibted.lv tlte Government had thought tho circumstances exceptional and had made- exceptional provision to meet theft, but had then encountered nnesjJectqd opposition on tho part of officers, The Government had forced- a crisis <if infeiite danger to tho community and tho Army. Gen~ eral Gough had resigiieiTtacaiisi? he would not fight against tjlster, bob lio* ho had been reinstated, thcußh Lβ still would not Tight against Ulster. Mr. Balfour weiit w to say that it was absurd for the Premier to use c<Mciliatory language, while Mr. Clinrehiil was blowing the ca'l to amis in York* shire. While tho Premier was β-aflisig out the firo engines, to put eui the- conflagration, ho sent two of his colleagues to cut the mains and destroy tho water supply. It had never befaro been thought necessary, ivlierr. supporting A magistrate, or looking after small arms, to lay down conditions that persons ivfto had relations near tho small arms jnight disappear, and later coffie kick iviihout loss of military reputation. These things were manifestly fooJisli. Genera.) Gondii had been reinstated, thotig'ii ho Still eaiit he would not fight Ulster, There were times in history when tlie oi-dXimry maxims of government and society nrtist bo laid aside. There had tic-e-n siteli j crises in our civil w-iSs, ihe contest wrthj the.American colonies, and at tho tunoj of tho disruption between North and South; and such crises were tlw.e to circumstances beyond -flip power of man. If this were the case, it was dno to tho insane folly of the SoteMiment's rfrJusal to look the facts in the face.

Prime Minister's Reply. Mr. Asquith; in reply to a question, said he was unable at present to sny wlinn the second reading iss the Homo Rule Bill would bo taken.. In fieeewher, ho proceeded, the officers cantmaiiding wore informod that they niifiht, l]o called upon to assist- the civil power, but that officers donmiiled in the area might bo excused. Sir Arthur TiiOfA had emphatically denied saying that this was the first -step in -tiio orations to.conquer Ulster. Sir Artjuir Paget had never received instructions , from tho War Office to justify such a statement. It was an tmdou'uted fact that General Gourfi aiid other oSecrs had misinterpreted tlve i.nst«ict,fe»s, and the Army Council was new satisfied that there'had been niisitmlerstaudiag, and the officers wero a-lso satisfied. Tho Prime Minister declared that it was the Army's duty to pretext nitiitary property, and reflto assistancn if tho civil power were-inadequate to deal with riot and disorder When Mr. Asouith '.viis replyitt!! that officers domiciled in tUsteT i jaiglit resign, he was asked if similar tions anplied to stfjkors. ! Mr.'Asc(iiith: Yes! It is a good rule, whnro a military force is called on to assist civil power, to nvisM emtiloyins men having domestic ties in that kcality. Continuing, Mr. Afiquith sold tlmt when Sir Arthur I'a.get received the War Olfirn's instruction, he assembled tho divisional geiserals and Wiradinrs, and intimrited id thoiit that tho movement of tlie troops might enuse oxeitement, and that tlwyifders iright be varied by consoqucittiftl sMjiplemontary . movpniewts. Bri|»adiprGonoral riough, who was a most distinguished cavalry Iq-adoij si man of very grent and woil-desefved reputation, and some of his officers, interproted Sir Artlmi , Pngot's observations ill tho tense of tho. letter which Jlr. Ronar Law had iust niatl. Tho officers were now satisfied that there had been a misunderstanding, and had returned to dutv, their full willingness to discharge thesp duties. The Premier concluded: "It is mi ..fclia busiuses of the Af-ffiv and Na-ry .to

I cliscrnnmate between the relative validity of different parts of tho Law, if Air. Bonar Law's doctriite wore recoginsect, tile whole fabric upon which the ww.is. built would disappear. If lialf a million men struck for shorter hours and better wages, and brought society ■ near starvation-, would the officers disobey orders because they believed Mlir 'the men's cause was a" just one? ) protest against the notion that the Army and Navy must ultimately determine the country's policy." Mr. J. Jiamsay Maedmiald (Labour) said that it Brigadier-General Gmsgh «-as not prepared to do his .dutv, to ought to be dismissed. The Syndicalists had apparently succeeded .in iuthe Tories > r ith their poisonous views. "Hundreds and thousands of trade tinimiists will say that Army officers were prepared to shoot strikers becau&o Urcy did not sympathise with them, but will not do their duty in Ulster hccntiso of class bias and political prejudices." The motion for the β-diotirnment of the House was negatived, A division was net called for, . In the House of Lords. Lord M'orley (tod President of tho Council) pressed for the publication of the Army Council's instructions to Sir Arthur Paget, and was promised that they Would bo anhonuecd to-morrow.

Lord jidrle.y ropest.ee! the Ministerial •statement, which had been given in tlio House of Commons, and added;—Tho KniK lja.s approved of General Govigl.i and his officers being ordered to rejoin their regiments.

London., March 23. xhe King has cancelled his visit to the. Grand National meeting. His Majesty gavo an sindienco to Sif Arthur I'aget (Officer Comuiaßding tbo Forces in Ireland). Lieuteiiant-Gcneral Sir Arthur Paget, Commsmler-iii-Chief in irelarad, lias, conferred with Colonel Seely, Secretary of State for War, prior to'a lengthy Cabinet council. Colonel Seely then proceeded to' Buckingham Palace.

London, Ma*ch 23. . It k authoritatively stated that a number ef officers at Belfast have resigned. "STUPIDLY DUNGLEP." PCBTJC OPINION ON THE CRISIS. "Timt-s" and Srdnc? "Sun." Services. tendon, March- 23. lilt? "Times," hi a lea-dlila; article- today, says; "The Ulster Covenanters stand oil the alert, calmly ready to fulfil their oath of re'sistanee, w'hiie tho Army for the utoment is paralysed; Never was a delieato jssao eo stupidly bungled and mishandled." ■ '

(Esc. March 24 S 6.80 p.m.) Uontloh, Mare-h 23, Lord Charles Beres.iwd, hi a letter "Times," says: "So Jqftg as officers and men ajo under the pennant, they must obey orders." He believes that many of the best officers and men ivifl resign, involvifig a stoppage of pay and pensions, "When tho reaction comes, it is certain, that the eovmti-.y will rosto.ro them to, their positifins," he adds.

Sfit'linj March 23. The newspapers ..attribute the ..Irish trouble to tne ovlls of (Jeawera-cy, and ar<» cinpjiasisiag this dangers of- a vohmtary military system. (Eec. March 25..0.50 a.m.) London, March 24. The nowspajmrs state that the War Offico vorjbaUy assured Brigad-mr-Seii-eral Gmigli jostcrday that the- cavalry wetild bo requited only td assist to .preserve law and orfe at Ulster. He asl«ed for a Written assurttiiop, which w.is granted, and General G-ou.gh agreed to I resume. Ho telegraphed to ■ the regi-* I incut that all tho *ffleers Wotild be feifisfciteil without loss of prestige.. Tho "Daily Mail' 5 adds.; General ■ Goijfth telegraphed to the officflfs at .the: , Ciu'rajjh on Smldji.y, after his first visrft : ' to the War Office: "Wo found- sttoug ' FUp.port o« iiltis sido. I believe we shall «ino througli ah-isiit if we stand firm." Tito "Daily Chronicle" (ijH-iorai) declares that "it is uselsss for th.o Government to toll xw that the oifieers did not strike. We all knew that they did. Tiieir action raises tho qucsiien: Am Army officers to dietp-te to Parli-ameiit what Bilt shall or sh«H not pass.? The : evil will β-fow with toferaiwo. Not. a few good judges think that if their places could bo filled by otlrer efficei-s who treat their profession more serious>fi it Would be a blessing in disguise The "Daily Chronicle's" lobby cbrresiwmdeiii states that nis-ny Ijib&rak dwliked. even tho appearance of surrender to raititaiy infittciirais, and if the Government adopted an iron hand, aiicf sent , the resigning officers about their biisiiiess it would bo muoh -more .agfeoabio to Most of its supporters. Th* situation in Ireland has been badly handled, and Colonel Seely has not covered himself with glory. '

IMPERIAL OFFICERS INT MEW ZEALAND. SMOOT-EITiESIGNATIONS. (38? Association,) Ghristchunih., Mtoroh 21, It k stated <m ge«l authitrity to-iisglit that several Imperial officers conßSetal with- the Nc-w /s<?a!an<l Jlefawe Depaftm&rt. flro handing in their resignations <is officers in the British Army, cm. ac-cs-mrt of the t'lstei , tnrnble. One β-fficer stated, to. ii. repo-rtef timt Jw irfts doing exactly the. sraive as lie wduld do it he wore at Ifomo, o.iid He eo-tlhl not s£e any reason for ectinff,differently wring to the fact of his being out hire. The rosig-iiatsoEs have nothing to do with the Nefr Zealand appointments of these officers.