DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2112, 1 April 1914, Page 7

DRAMATIC DEVELOPMENTS

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By Mograpli-Pross AfiSpßiation-Ebcyrittlit London, March 30. ■Colonel Seely, M.iiHstei- for YVa'i , , lias resigned.

Tho l'rimo -Minister (Mr. H. S. Asquith) is assuming bis duties-. ;' Sir John Frcneli and Gteiiforstf Ew-ar-l have not withdrawn their restguufiqiis.

Before a crowded aud excited House,, tho Premier (Mr. Asquit'KK amiotaeed that Sir John i?relioii u'ri'd General Ewart persisted in holdfag to theif decisions to resign-. He deeply deplored their decision, and said that Jio co.uld jlot speak too warmly iMd' gratefully of their ability and loyalty and .devotion to duty. Ho hoped! that they would continue to serve tlfe Ariiiy.

In tho circum&taiices, ho felt it h;is duty to assumo the tiffino of Slintsfler for War., (Lond c.heet.s.) The, King had approved this steps : Mr. AsQuith tljen. £tnno.u:nce.d bis retirement. - All , tile' lawyers, he ssiidj were agreed that it was necfisSary for him'to be re-elected. ■

' Colonel Seelj'i ffQtij. ; the earncf seat on tho third bench abfivo. the gangway, mado a'■ personal statoriient. There was no' difference, h<? Stii.3, betWeii himself and his .enileagues' qu any'jiqihk of policy or principle. Ho had pressed his resignation febatrso it appenfedj though this was , not bis intention., thaithere had been ft bargain with the ohV cers regarding the service the j', should render the Crown.. As Sir Jwtt "ffench and General Ewiirt had resigned., ho was obliged to surrendeT hi» own iila.ee. It. might be that the wJtoTe- Afmy sys» torn' would have to : be recast, tat ho would not discuss dint, pjiiise now, Ho hoped still to support t'lle Jfeinier and Mm causes for which ito stodd.

"When Mr. , Asquith . left tlio House, the Liberal, Labour,- and iNationalist members cheered hW oniiiiusiasticaljy. ,

It is understood. Ofltoiial A. SpWt't will contest East Fife, against Mi. Asquith.,. ,

QjUrtJiill's statement that the IJ-ntoii-ists consitfcrod it right t]ia:t soldiers should "dowH Radicals or Labourite'" was a foul fa.hel!()od. Law on Givit VVaf. ■ Lord Roberts said that baseless a-sser-tfoiis had been made..that tiio Aftrij' w,is imijlicated in, a pblifel ijonsp.ifacy, .and also etiuAllj , slanderous wore the ciiar.gws of d!s.obed(e-Uc6 and disregavd of 4m* cipMjto. There ' fras not t-W amallest iiis-tifieattQii for any of theso- incidents, satcj Lord. io.bor|s. The. officers were asked, to make "their choice, betiyeen two teribfo. alternatives. The opttoh via' npt sought by them, .but was deliberati, 3 - I.V l.>y tho G-QvqrM'nieii.t, through Sil' Arthur The fiov* ernhieutim-ideiitly l\ad rfealiscd that ,"' wffs m.afciflg a doniancS iipon. tirei.Ai'nty which it lied no right to t&ttke; jt e«nteinplatcd something not provided for by the Army Aet to the King's Rogttfatidns-. tho answer te svliich AYas to be found; in tho '.'Mantal of Jlilitary law," which says; .• :

"Eiiftlisb law iifevor presupjioses the possjiliillty <jf civil, war, and do.es liot jiiake provision' , tor such coniingeneies," '

Lord. .Haklnne, Lord Chaiicdtor, agreed that it was Wrong to- bring tjul Army into ptftitiGs. No. iaore- splendid Or.ntofQ Joj-al body of men existed, ; biU a. lal-go number of ofrieers had raised i> bjff issue at tlio Cmxagh. Tjitfy licit dtsiabot , orders, Imt raised questions rilibht onkfs which might bo giycji li.ltei.ti.. "A groat, armed fere.o has'&itiv iaissd hv Vkto," said tonl Hnidaiio, '■'I'ct it .is saiggftsted ttet tlio Oovgrfidaisy is It- Hα notjihi.g, %c (j: eyeniMjenfc lias gazed with paticijeo dn «11 this utterly aicgal clfffliiig is fflstor, 'Umhiusc it felt tltiit ib.was: bottor »pt to. ilitGflcro. JJut ib beeaino an' irn* perattw duty to have tlio tnst i r«iti»iit.s sit lianxl to maitikm order if ft cauflict ■iiftOljrrecl. A ba.ttle Bftttaclrbn was sent .tti.larotasfr.Gn the Isiaud of ;Anah), as . a-Rrevptftativß measiire, 'aiid ivjtjidvaivn wteii it Was. foiuvd fet tlictroaps had won fietioßabljr-. liioved, ' It. is ole.pip.r.iWetliat ft minilktf of mifort'tiiiato '■b'flj--ec*s have fen •.fiiisleS by tto suggestion , <#' tuo Bnlanist- Press, aftd the Sooijer th(i incid'eivt is efidfed tie bettot for tlis ' ' ■-..-■•-.■ ■■-■. •' ...■■•■

'A DRAMATIC (Rec; March 31;. li;?s;j*,mj

: •. ... LOntlon, March 31. . Tim Houso % of Was startled bv Mr. Asqmtb's'' dramstic dfiGJsiolJ, The Premier . indicated tFiivfc lie would hold the'position le'BiJorSfity.i ' ' Mr. Bonar Law {Leader of : fhe' tlftioij*. ists) referred to' the. tuvpropr.ifety of Mr. Asquitli's absence from the Homo Rule debate. ■ . ■ > . v ; '

■ Mr. Asmiith replied that ha would b> close .at hatid, in tovjeh Willi his. <s6W leagues. . -,',.. ,x: <-><...:

.The previous pollings , .'..for i4fti> Prims .Minister's constituency,, Bast, Fife (ifcot; land) aro as follow ../.'■ .'" ' ' issj,' "■'.. Asquith ,(L.) .„......,.,„. ~ 3,74:3 Gilnwur '(C.)''..- .....,'.....■. 3,49 .■ Liberal majority ~„„,., ; gjt .. 1895. . : . . Aeqinth (L.) , : „• ..., 4^32:.! Gilmour (C.) <..,.....„ '~ 3;616 Liheral majority ~«. Tl& . '" 1000. .--■" ■■''■ ":■■". >. AsquitK (L.) w^.ivMi Constable (C.) ~. ~.. 2Jlfr Liberal maidf%- ..„.,;.. U3l • m . ,' ' ■ , Asquiffi" (L.) ...„ „.. 'i-M - Gilmoiir (C.) S,at* Liberal majority ".„»....., l,lij • - mo. ■ ' ■'■ . ■ Electorate-, IM?2. ' Asquitii (L.) ' ftSta Col. Sprot (CO ~■ ■,;....« 3,183 Liberal majority *'«'.»>.. 2,039 ten. 'Asquith- (L.) ;.»>,..,. 5,119 Col. Sprot (C.) ....,., ~.. 3,35'tJ . Liberal majority ...„.,„ lj"9!J . DEBATE IN THE LORDS. SOME SEARCHING QXTEST|6NS f -

PROVOCATIVE MEASURES

MR CHfRCHIU, \COTiSCD LV THfl

HO LSD Ma-thdl, 1133pm)

... . Imdojh, 31. ■ Itt-tlsQ. House,. OU .thid -third: reading' of . tJ.ie? CenfioKdafed Fund' fiifl,. Jih F. .35, Smith. .:(%)qnist), aeciised Mr, CfuiTehill of talriiig ptotocatke nm* ,s.urss. ? and.said tliit-svlieiVlie ljiado his Ilfadford speech ho was. awero that v jijf Strflctiflns had ,been: sen't'to General Srr Arthur Pag6t (CDtommidfir-m-Ciiicf 'ft .Ireland).. LaXir', M had giy«n orders ts rneve the %!> to Irclarid.

Mr. Churqlutl said that gir !Edw«H:d Cafson had raised a, rebellion; greater t'hau the ji&Mee cotttd oopo wttl., and that tiro , ftppo&ftion leaders wore Stayins to. prevent the Government from put-. tiiig (loffiii the revojutjon. " ■

IMerfiHK to Sir Artfeur Paget*? -njisiety .as te- the lnovqjpeni of the Jfoo.ps., Mr* Ohurehin cSplaiuedfhat Sir Arthuf Vufrct liafl assured tl» Government tlttlt Ije Would not alow the 'troops to ftio at tlvo OraiigqTfte.n tmtil tlid troofis themsejv.ea kd. feeu fired at for sorno time, arid had sivffered-effoc-th'e.lrfss. the Gavtirnment was alisoto be propared. It siemed to some people to bo a -pa'trlotfe and loyal thing.to raise n voluiitet* athi.y in IFlster. hut when the Goeirli-nMiVt took precautions to supp.ort and p»toot tvbo cinl sower liy troops agafn.st this arms', it *ns considered ta W a fiendisii and treacherous eoiispiracy, Hs definitely charged the leaders "of the Opp-Qsitioß' in both Soiiscs with- 'the s.edliotioLV of the Afni.v.

(Rec. March 31 1015 pm ) London, Aiirch 31

Mr.-DonAr.LaAv' (Unionist Leader) denied the charge. If, he Said,.ftra"effivera wero iivteneeij at. all, "ii was Iff Mt. _ OhuroMff in his Bradford sjioecp. Ministers l.lad ..insinuated • that tlie ■Wa.tno rostod oil. Sir ArtlVar Paget., but tliav did .iwt dare to say it.- Bir AV< ttiit.r Pa-get had said nothing, kit it might bo thai the Gbfermne'itt was concciilinjj; soiiictluttg. Tbn rn&tion for the third readiilig fl;f thn- Bill »-as carried , by 359 ™i<?.s. to 251—a majority of ?S votes for tiro Qov-GriMiiGirt-'aiul tfe nieasiiie was siiJxse-i (wc-ntty put ihyotigh all its,,..gtages in I'ho Honso <rf Lords. ' ".' ■ .

' Speaking in tho liottse of_ ipfds,. ii? a series of replies-: to question^, Lorct Morley (Lord PreswlcHt oi the CfeiiEilj stated that Sjr 'Arthur , Paget' '.had. not received any instructions to-tmi hy.jiothetical cmestions to the efficors, beyond a general order grailting jeave-of absence to ofSccrS donriojfed in tJlstej if their unit were .ordered to sup,po.ft tho civil power. ,Jfo iustructioits wote eiven to Sir Arthur Pagq't-: , The conduct of the troops gG'iieraily has b«e:n exemplary. .

Lord Morley tlien rfllatfiil that ho hail remained after the Calshrefc raceling irad dispersed on Monday, ohcl Colonel Seely (Secretary of State for 'VFaf) had shoivotl him tlio paragraphs .pfOpo&ctj to be added. He did not percoivo then.,, nor did he perceive iiew, tjittt tliejr, tlif r fered in spi.rit and srtljstejico from tlipprevious paragraphs aanctioooij by Caniiiet. Lord Morley eonfesSpd that Tin had joined in the offence against a sound Cabinet rule that no adflition had a right to be , made *ithaut Cabinet. • • , . A Pertinent pestioifu Lord Gurzon (Uiiinttist! askdi:' A« Colonel Seoly has resigned, why is. Lord Morley still a MinisterP Lord Morley: I shall answer that, question to-morrow* ■Lord Solbourno (Unionist) theaght that Mr. Asquith's , eSptanfidns wore incompatible with the established facts of the case. K[e glad that ®M> Premier was going to the War Office, "Ho will probably got the greatest ■ silft priso'of his life whrti lie finds what hi? colleagues have really boon dam.K." observed tho speaker. Mr. As/juith, ljp continued, could net hijv* issiied »

HOME RULE BILL

NOriGL OF RIIIGIIGN

■Lpnclon, MarcJi 80, Mr. AV. H. Long (Uiiiojiist) has given lietivo to move iu the House of Cemmoils tbu Tojcctami of the Hm»o 'Rule Bill.

tHK KINS REMAINS IN LONDON, "Time? , aM Syiucy "Sua ,, Sdfviccp/ March 30. ' Their Mai'csties the King , aiid QwSel'i will'ivot leave the city even te proceed to .Windsor, if there "is a- likcHliood' (J feolifa'es demautliag then , presence ■(} London.

NEW WAR CHIEFS MOOTED

SIR J\WS GRII RSON SIR

lU\ HHIILIO.N

London, Jlaset 30, Lieutenant-Genoral Sir James Grio'--soli, and liieuiciianUGtiieral fer lan Hamilton arc suggested, its successors to Sir John FrencJi. Sir lan. Hamilton's acceptance VTOH-M tmaMo tJio Government te afjoHsJi the oflleo of Insjjee-tof-Geiioral of the Oversea Itarixa,

statement on March S3 ff Im> had lieen • fully informed. His rofcreiico to two small cruisors, was iMompatilil-o- with Mr. Churchill's movcrii.elit «if five liiittlc squadron.' "What had 3fr. in his mind when, lie Botntctnpletotl ihi .whole paraphernalia of war at a tiniii : when Tllstor was p-refou'iitli.V tfan.q«il? i! askfid Lord Selbovir.H.o. "They w«ve. v perfectly clear—active oocratious, itttendod as lnadiiifc. to all flic incklentg of war." He asked the GovoTirirteiit Iβ,; tell tlib House what renfly hifflpeiwf! on' that fateful day wkfin Sir ArtWf Fiifietmet Colonel ■ Seoly and smiw of his ooiipaK'ics in London. Why Sir Arthttr Paset's terrible appiciiGHsioJis at tJto ; mere movement of four ooiVip.TiijfciiJ' Was it intended to fnstruftt tlie Constabulary to search for afms, and back' them up by all the linval ajid mifitaty forces? Mr. Churchill iww■ sought , fai' create a diversion by ratEin.fr. the er.v of "Army versus the peoiile." Mr.