IN THE COMMONS RESIGNATIONS & ARMY ORDER

Evening Post, Volume LXXXVII, Issue 75, 30 March 1914, Page 8

IN THE COMMONS RESIGNATIONS & ARMY ORDER

ACTIVE OPERATIONS IN ULSTER NEVER CONTEMPLATED. LONDON, 29th March. In the course of his speech in the House of Commons, Mr. Asquith emphasised that Sir John French and General Ewart desired to -resign, not because they differed from the Government, but because they had initialled the memorandum. The Government would regard their resignations as a serious misfortune to the Army and the State. (Cheers.) Ms. Asquith concluded by declaring that it was altogether untrue that the Government, or any member of thp Government, ever contemplated active operations of an aggressive character in Ulster, or any operations imposing on the Army any duty not amply covered by the terms of this now order. Mr. Bonar Law said there seemed to be nothing in the new order of the Army Council which was not already implied in the existing Army regulations. The issueof a new order was simply due' to the incredible folly of tho Government and Colonel Seely. He would take an opportunity of discussing Hie whole subject on Monday. GROSS INSULT TO WHOLE ARMY. Captain Morrison - Bell (Unionist), speaking after Mr. ■ Bonar Law, strongly protested against the new order as the grossest insult to the whole Army. There was never any doubt as to the officers and men obeying their superiors' orders. Sir John French stultified his position by signing the new order. Captain Morrison - Bell concluded : " Had not Colonel Seely. done his best to spoil the discipline of the Avhole Army by going to the officers and, through Sir Arthur Paget, asking what their views were, this question would have never arisen." (Opposition cheers.)