ULSTER AND AMRY OFFICERS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2017, 26 March 1914, Page 5

ULSTER AND AMRY OFFICERS.

CABINET CRISIS.

CURRAGH WCffiEMT REACTS

ON MINISTERS.

THEIR RANK AND FILE

DISAFFECTED,

STORMY SCENE AT THE WAR

OFFICII.

By Telegraph—Press Areocittti'sn—OopyrisM (Kec. March 25, 9,26 p.m.) London, March 25. General Sir Arthur Paget (Commander in Ireland) a«i Biigadier-Goiiei'al Gough (Comm.itii-di.ng the- Third Cavalry Brigade at tho Curragi;) have roturaed to Ireland. ( Tho soldiers loudly cheered l3rigadin'rGeneral Gougli and Limitc.ian i-Colonel MacEwan on the'.r arrival. Speaking to tho officers and soldiers gathered at tho gates of his hoise, Genera! Gougli said that tho officers had all been reinstated, and would not be called oft .to forco Ulster. If they went to Ulster it would be fo-r other duty. Ho had a guarantee that they would not be asked to bear arms against tho Ulsterinen. (Great cheering.) ( General Goitgh informed 'the "Daily Telegraph" re'presonfettivo: "I havo signed a guarantee th-at in no circumstances will wo bo tisei to foroft Homo Rule upon Ulster. We are willing to undertake ordinary duty, such as the protection of lite a.nd property, and the preservation of order, but if it ca.me to Civil War, wo would rather fight- for Ulster than against her." Another account states tl-jat when General Gougli, Lieutetmht-Colonel MacEwan, and Major Parker (all of tho Cavalry Brigade) reached tho TSar Office there wore stermy scenes. _ Field-Marshal Sir John French criticised their action as meriting the severest punishment. The intervention, of Lord Roberts restored a bet-tor feeling, and finally tho ofliiwrs received a docnwent, of many paragraphs, written in legal phraseology, setting out tho conditions under which they should sorvo ill Ulster. i Ge'heral Gougli feplietl; W« ate plain soldiers. -Wo don't understand all. those legal terms. Wo want things '-put plainly." Genera! Sough thc.n read the document. "B® we- understand," lie asked, "that we will not bo asked to bear arm.s against Ulster, or to enforce'the present. Home- Rifle- Bill r Can wo return and, toll our ©ffitinrs so?" After further argument, Sir Jolni French wrote an General Gffugh's paper: "Yes, this is so," and- signed l'fe Throe copies of tho document Werethen made and deposited.

STORM OF CRiTiClSfvf.

LIBERALS DISS AT ISFIED. WAITING FOR THE DOCUMENTS. (Reed. March 25, 10.15 p.m.) ' London, Ma:-eh 25,. Colonel Seoly, .in the House of Com* mons, promised to publish nil the. material documents; relating to General Cough's resignation and reinstatement. Mr. Asquith added that, the documents would include the written instructions to Sir Artlmr Ragefc, The whale question, li'e said, ce'ilW bo discussed on the second reading of tho Consolidated Fund Bill to-mo.rrosv. Questioned in tho Houso of Lords if the documents pronibed Would include the AVar Offico verbal instructions to Sir Arthur Paget, Lord Morley (Lord President of the Council) replied that it woiild be a dubious precedent to publish highly confidential instructions. Mr. Asquith, similarly questioned in the House, replied that- tto documents obviously cannot deal with matters which were oral. The Press Association states that tho tabling of tho documents is awaited with tho utmost intaSest. There is a" good deal of anxiety amongst Uio Government's supporters, as tho Ministry is threatened with widespread revoltamongst the rank and file. If the rumours current regarding the nature of tho. document exculpating General Gough provo to ba correct, tTie seriousness of tho position camict be exaggerated.

It is unofficially stated that the Liberals, Labour members, and Nationalists alike are unsparing ia their condemnation of the Ministerial attitude. Liberal nowspape.rs and 'fol.%ists agree that the situation is critical. It- is rumoured thai- Colonel Scelv (Secretary of State for War), at- Mo.itday's Cabinet meeting, ottered to resign, but tho resignation was not accepted. Tho opinion was generally expressed ill the lobby after Mr. AsqmWs speech that it is now impossible for tho Government to can upon tlic- Army to. coerco Ulster. Many of tho Liberals and tlie Irish Nationalists are disappointed at tho Governriient not -accepting tho- resignation^. Liberal papers declare that tlift Tory attempt to split the- Army lias failed, and- further declare, that the lin-.it of patience has been reached. _ The "Daily Ne.ws" says that tho public wants to know the conditions under which Brigadier-Genera! Sough returned to Ireland—ate they cond.it ions of unqualified or optional obedience? If the Army is a Tory institution, the Liberals, the '.'Notts" declares, willbreak it as they broke tlie House of Lords. .The Unionist papers declare that Sir Arthur Paget lias been madi the scapegoat, and hint at tiie possibility of his resignation.. They acclaim General Gongli n-s the man of the hour, and laud his bnud of officers, who, they declare, saved the country from disaster.

MOMENTOUS DEBATE PENDING. (Heed. March 25,. 11..15- pun.) London, March 25. The debate in t.!m House o'f Commons on tlio Army Estimates revealed Widespread Liberal and Labour dfeeoiitwit over the Government's actions vrifli. regard to Brigail»r-{!iene,ra"l Oough. Lobby correspondents suggest tlio possibility of a'graft) situation M tomorrow's debate. Tlio Unionist newspaper's give prominence* to statements that the- Government ivill attempt- as coup d'etat. Tlio third battle squadron, and the Fourth Destroyer Division arq eo-opcr-aUiig with Sir Arthur Faget's forces. rile Solicitors' TJniflii Dcfetcc League, lias collected £54,029 in five days ,ior assist the Ulster Fund, coniniciteeEl by tho Hon. Herbert Giisbs, offering filOOfj as a protest against Mr. Cittirdrifl's s|>eectics on tlio Home Elite question, (Roc. March 26j 0.45 a.m.) London, March '23. The "Daily Notrs" ■says that "the country wants to know why Lord Roberts on Saturday was moving between Buckingham Palace and the War Office, and what the Arcftbishou of Canterbury is doing in '.Ms affair?

The "Daily Citizen" (Labour) accuses Hie_ King of isitertering m the Ulster crisis. The paper adds: "The Premier atul llto Liberal Government will come badly out of this business.'*'

looking for light.

LIBERAL MEMBERS ON ulster settlement. WAY OUT BY "]>KYOLITIOX." London, March 24. Eight Liberal ns&mtjefs, writing to the "Westminster Gazette" {Liberal) stnto that tho Government's Ulster offer, ttrough statesmanlike and tho best tiridei\the circumstances, swffors from an admitted defect—thc want of finality. The writers warmly advocate the 'Westminster Gazette's" suggestion that the House of Lards reconstruction problem should be included in tho consideration of Honifl Jluie, as tho best weans of securing a definite settlement; The wliojo constitutional quest,iosi covtld bn dealt with during Ulster's six years'' exemption. The idea of Federal or Devolution sottlomont finds increasing support- in several newspapers. Mr. IV, H, Cowan (Liberal member ffli 1 Aberdeenshire Bast) asked tho Premier ta consider the eschts.ia.n of Ulster landing a general, scheme of derolu' troq. Afr. Asquith replied that he w<us anxious to give tho fullest consideration to any proposal likely to afford common grounds of agreement.. The Moderate Liberals are debatingMr. Gnt-bcarti Waaon's suggestion that if sufficient M.P.'s of all parties support tho -self-exclusion of thfi northern countries iuiti.l a federal system has boon -established, probably both Ministerial and I'H'ionist leaders Would accept the proposal. "Tin.es" lind Sydney "Sun" gsrTiccs, Mr, T. P. O'Connor, M.P., in a special article in "Reynolds's Newspaper." pfttjiliesies that there-will ho .no developments in Ireland until the Bill roaches the House of Lords, whore so.mo of the Carvonite proposals will be -embodied. Tho House of Commons will reject them, and send tho Hill bads to tho Lords, where they will lift accepted, and then the Homo Rule struggle will commence. STOCK EXCHANGE RALLIES. \ London, March 24. Tlio Stock Exchange is buoyant, and i there has 'been an ail-round advance on account of the more hope-fill outlook in Ulster. Consols touched 76, and closed at 7oJ.

"ULSTER ORANGE PLOT." A BLAST FUOM MB. RKIXMOXD. London, -March 24. Renter's Agency Ims boeii requested to send the following as Xfr. Jo.hu Redmond's statement to Australian sympathisers ' "The Ulster Orange ptot has now been completely revealed, Sir Edward Carson and his army have not, nor iievor had, the slightest intention of As . a figlitiii-g •foreo agaiiist this Regulars they cmvld not. hold out a week. Tho phui WsiS to 'p'ttt- ii : p the appearance or a figlit.' and then, by society 111flnOjiefis,, seduce Aiiiiy officers, atteJ, thus intimidate the Government and defeat the people's will, Theaction of the comma mlcrs in some of tho crack cavalry regimenis, officered. by aristocrats, lias flow fully disclosed tho plan of campaign. The , issno raked is wider even thou Homo Rule; it .is.uW)ii3.tliej,. a-, demo- ; eratiie Government ii. to bo towbeaten and dictated to by iho draw-ing-rooms ot Loudon ami a section <*f Arils}' officers .Jyj'tcr ;{):c aVtistqernis Slid vioj»nt 'l ory;, partisans, ' The eauso of Irish freedom has. in this . fight become tho, cause of popular ' freedom and ordered liberty tiirdughwfc the world. It 4s impossible to doubt the msii'lt of such it fight. The second reading will betaken oil Monday, ami tho Bill proceeded with ijntiT st finds it place on the Statute Book."

London, Marcli 25. I/oi tl Kslu-r (a member oi the Imperial Deforce Commute, mid a past president of the Ixindon Territorial. Force Association, in a letter to the newspapers, states that it is widely believed that, a movement of troops from Alderxiiot to Ireland is contemplated, involving tlie > calling up of tho issdjres. He is eonvinjeu that the first detachment sent to Ireland will result- in the resignation of 50 pe- cfiht, of the officers and men. ©f the London Territorial Force.

OBANGGfitEN FOR ULSTER, CONTINGENT FROM SYDNEY. Sydney,. March 25. 'At a mcctin); of the Loyal Orange Institution it was decided to form ft contingent of sympathisers with Ulster to proceed to Ireland, if necessary, to help to defond Ulster. A largo number of offers of service were received. The executive also started a fund to supplement Sir Marcus- Samuel's donation for assisting teSigning officers, and cxpfesse4.it hope that the King, sis supreme iwad of Protestant Britain, would exercise his right bt" veto and i make a genoral election imperative before the Bill received his assent. 1

CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS. "Times" arid Sydney "Siiit'' Services. Ottawa, March 24. The first contingent; of Canadian Vdl■uiitem for Ulster- will leave- in .Mar. Several Canadian atid South African papers, urge the adoption of tli.o referendum proposal.