WHICH TO RULE? PARLIAMENT OR THE ARMY

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 72, 26 March 1914, Page 7

WHICH TO RULE? PARLIAMENT OR THE ARMY

A REMARKABLE DEMONSTRATION. MINISTER OF WAR'S DEPLORABLE WIiAJvNEfcS. (TIMBS *ND SYDNBY SUN SEFIVICES.) (Received March 26, 8.10 a.m.) LONDON. 23th March. Mr. L. C. Amery (Unionist member for Birmingham South) raised the question of the Array crif-is. He said Colonel Sftely, with c-her&tteristtc optimism, had ;« sutured, tht Government that it might

alway6, reckon on the Army as a. blind tool fctr any crime which it meant to perpetrate. Mr. Amery moved a Teduction in order 'to emphasise the view that the Government was .not entitled to U6e fch« Army for party purposes. Mr. Amery said that the officers were prepared to support the civil powers against riots and disorder, but had the right to act as their consciences dictated when the Government, for party ends, was risking civil war. Mr. John Ward (Labour member for Stoke-on-Trent) seconded the motion, but^ from a different standpoint. The House, he said, had t-a decide whether Parliament in the future would Wave to go to a committee of militar}' men to at>k if they would allow this or tnat Bill to be passed into law. Mr. Ward read Syndicalist leaflets pleading with the Army to "don't 6hoot strikers." Mr. Ward accused the Unionists of spreading similar sedition in the Army. "If the wealthy folk want to employ such means to decide political probleuib the Labour Party was willing." "My class will fight you to-morrow," he concluded. "What we demand is the right to make law.« absolutely without interference by either King or Army." Then followed a remarkable demonstration, Ministerialists and Nationalists cheering for two minutes. Mr. A. C. T. Beck (Liberal member for Essex) said that many Liberate would resign to-morrow rather than sit in a House dictated to by Army officers. Colonel Seely. he said, had shown deplorable weakness. LIBERAL AND 'LABOUR DISCONTENT. "'" ' LONDON. 25th March. The debate in the House of Commons on the Army Estimates revealed widespread Liberal and Labour discontent with the Government's actions in regard to Brigadier-General Gough. Lobby correspondents suggest the possibility of a grave situation as the result of to-morrow's debate. Unionist newspapers give prominence to statements that the Government will attempt a coup d'etat by ordering the third battle squadron and the fouith destroyer division to co-operate with Sir Arthur Paget's forces. DISSENSION IN WAR OFFICE PREMIER'S STATEMENT PREVENTS RESIGNATIONS. (Received March 26, 10.15 a.m.) . LONDON. 25th March. The Manchester Guardian (Liberal) states that the War Office Staff, with two exceptions, intended resigning but for Mr. Asquith's statement declaring that there had been a misunderstanding. BETTER OUT- OF OFFICE THAN AN ARMY VICTORY RECORDED. (Received March 26, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, 25th March. The Westminster Gazette (Liberal) says : " Rather than it should go on record that the Army won a victory over the Government we would cheerfully see the Government out of office and the Liberal Party in the wilderness. What Mr. Ward and Mr. Thomas -said yesterday the whole of the working class is thinking to-day." A miners' agent, addressing the colliers in Cumberland, said the time was ripe for the formation of a Trade Union Defence League, which would be ready to take up arms to resist oppression from any source. Air. H. L. Greenwood (Liberal member for Sunderland) said there was not a colonial in the Empire who would not be shocked by the events of the last few days. AWAITING THE DOCUMENT GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS THREitTEN REVOLT. LONDON, 25th March. Questioned as to whether the documents to be laid before the House include the War Office's' verbal instructions to Sir Arthur Paget, Lord Morley, in the House of Lords, replied that it would be a dubious precedent to publish highly confidential instructions. Mr. Asquith, similarly questioned in the House of Commons, replied that the documents obviously cannot deal with the matters which were oral. The Press Association states that the tabling of the documents is awaited with the utmost interest and a good deal of anxiety by the Government's supporters. The Ministry is threatened with a widespread revolt in the rank and file. If the rumours current regarding the nature of the document exculpating Brigadier-General Gough prove correct, the seriousness of the position cannot be exaggerated. It is unofficially stated that Liberals, Labourites, and Nationalists alike are unsparing in their condemnation of the Ministerial attitude. newspapers and lobbyists agree that the situation is critical. It is rumoured that Colonel Seely at Monday's Cabinet meeting offered to resign, but the resignation was not accepted. KING ACCUSED OF INTERFERE ENCE. LONDON, 25th March. The Daily Citizen accuses the King of interfering, and adds that the Premier of the Liberal Government will come badly out of the business. The Daily News and Leader says that the country wants to know why Lord Roberts, on Saturday, was movrng between Buckingham Palace and the War Office, and what the Archbishop of Canterbury is doing in this affair. ATTITUDE OF TERRITORIALS VISCOUNT ESHER'S CONVICTION. LONDON, 25th March. Viscount Esher, chairman of the Territorial Force Association, in a letter to the newspapers, says it is widely believed that the movement of Aldershot troops to Ireland is contemplated, involving the calling up of the reserves. He is convinced that the first detachment sent to Ii eland will result in the resignation of 50 per cent, of the officers and men of the London Teiritorial Force.