IN ULSTER.

Feilding Star, Volume VIII, Issue 2320, 26 March 1914, Page 2

IN ULSTER.

THE IRISH CRISIS.

Cheering the Officers.

The Minister of War

Sends In His Resignation. They Get A Guarantee. BT ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT. PER PRESS ASSOCIATIONTHE RETURNED OFFICERS ' CHEERED. London, March, 25. Soldiers loudly cheered General Gough and Colonel Macewan on arriving at the camp. Speaking to the officers and soldiers gathered at the gates of his home, General Gough said tße officers were all reinstated. They would not be called on to force Ulster. If they went for other , duty, he had a guarantee that they would not be asked to bear arms against the , Ulstermen. This -statement elicited great cheering. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTERS

DISCONTENTED

The debate in the House of Commons on the Army Estimates revealed widespread Liberal and Labour discontent with the Government's actions regarding General Gough. Lobby correspondents suggest the possibility of a grave situation arising during tomorrow's debate. **

UNSPARING CONDEMNATION OF MINISTERS.

The Press Association states that the tabling of documents _is being awaited with the utmost interest, and a good deal of anxiety, by the supporters of the Government. Ministers are threatened with a widespread revolt amongst rank and file if the rumours current regarding the nature of the documents exculpating General Gough prove to be correct. The seriousness of the position cannot be exaggerated. It is officially stated that Liberals, Labourites and Rationalist alike are unsparing of their condemnation of the Ministerial attitude. Liberal newspapers' lobbyists agree that the situation is critical.

THE ULSTER FUND

The Union Defence League collected £54,029 in five'days to assist the Ulster fund. It was commenced by the Hon. Herbert Gibbs offering £1000 as a protest against Mr Churchill's speeches

A STARTLING STATEMENT.

Unionist newspapers give prominence to statements that the Government will attempt a coup d'etat, the third battle squadron and the fourth destroyer division co-operating with Sir A. Paget's forces.

THE KING'S INTERFERENCE

The Daily Citizen accuses the King of interfering. It adds that the Premier and the Liberal Government have come badly out of the business.

LORD ESHER'S PREDICTION

Lord Esher, in a letter to the newspapers, says that it is widely believed that the movement of the Aldershot troops to Ireland is contemplated, involving the calling up of the Reserves. He is convinced that the first detachment sent to Ireland will result in the resignation of 50 per cent of the officers and men of the London Territorial force.

INTERESTING QUESTIONS. The Daily News says the country wants to know why Lord Roberts so'ii.Saturday was moving between Buckingham Palace and the War Office i The country wants »to-know what the Archbishop of Canterbury was doing in this affair. • .' •

ORANGEMEN'S RESOLUTION

Sydney, March 25

At a meeting of the Loyal Orange Institution it was decided to forma contingent of sympathisers with Ulster, to proceed to Ireland if necessary, and help to defend Ulster. A large number of offers of service were received. The executive also started a fund to supplement Sir S. Samuel's donation for assisting the resigning officers, and expressed the hope that the King, as the supreme head of Protestant Britain, would exercise his right of veto, and make a general election imperative before the Bill receives his assent.

NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY '. AVellington, March ,25

The reports that Imperial Army officers in New Zealand are handing in their resignations are not I taken seriously here, and there is no official confirmation : of the statement. It is x>ointed out that if the officers were ordered Home they would have plenty of opportunity of taking any action which they thought necessary,, before they became involved in the Ulster complications. PAYING RESPECTS TO CARSON. (Roceivcd March 26, 9.15 a"m.) London,- March 25. Major-Gneeral Sir C. Mcßeady, whom the War Office'sent to Belfast to confer with Count Gleichen, commander of the 15th Infantry Brigade at Belfast, visited Sir Edward Carson at Graigavoh in uniform, intimating that he wish- ! ed to pay his respects to the Unionist leader. General Richardson was present. < |

The Manchester Guardian states that the AVar Office staff, with two exceptions, intended resigning, but for Mr Asquith's statement declaring there had been a misunderstanding.

The Westminster Gazette says it would rather it should go on record that the army won the. victory! than the Government. "We would cheerfully see the Government out of office and the Liberal Party in the wilderness. AVhat Ward Thomas said yesterday the whole working class is thinking to-day." A miners' agent, ' addressing the colliers of Cumberland, said the time was ripe for the formation of a trade union defence league, ready to take up arms to resist oppression from any source. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. ! In the debate iv the House of

Commons on the Army estimates, Mr L. C. Amery moved a reduction to emphasise the view that the Government was not entitled

to use the army for party purposes. He said the officers wore prepared to support'lhe civil powers against riots and disorder, but had the right to act as' their consciences dictated when the Government, for party ends, wa» risking civil war. Mr John Ward, Labour member, seconded the motion, from a different standpoint. The House, lie said, had to decide whether Parliament in the future would have to go to a committee of military men and ask if they would allow this or that Bill to -be passed into law. Mr AVard read some truculent leaflets, pleading with the army not to shoot strikers. Mr Ward accused the "Unionists of spreading similar sedition in the army. If wealthy folk wanted to employ such means to decide political problems, the Labour Party was willing. "My class will fight you to-morrow, he concluded. " What we demand is the right to make laws absolutely without interference, either from the King or the arm_l." There ensued a remarkable dC monstration, Ministerialists .ami Nationalists cheering lor two mi- ' nutes. , ' . Mr A. C. Beck, Liberal member for Saffron Walden, said many Liberals would resign to-morrow rather than sit in the House and be dictated to by army officers. Col. Seely, he said, had shown deplorable weakness. (Received March 26, 8.0 a.m.) London Times-Sydney Sun Servicee.

THE ARMY CRISIS

Mr L. C. Ainery, Unionist member for Birmingham, in the < of Commons, raised the question of the army crisis. He said Col.-' Seely, with characteristic optimism," had assured the Government that they might always reckon on the army as a blind tool for any crime which they meant to perpetrate. ..£

IRISHMEN IN U.S.A. . New York,.March 25. Mr McDonald, President of the Dublin Club, declared that 500 members were ready to sail, for* Ireland to fight the Ulstermon. They, were fully armed and had been- secretly drilling for months., AVHAT THE FIGARO THINKS Pan's, March 25. .The Figaro conceives it possible that the King may refuse' his signature to tlie Home Rule Bill; that the Socialists might secure a majority and declare a republic. JER PRESS ASSOCIATION.

A WHITE PAPER. (Received 8.40 a.m.) . London, March 25.. The AVhite Paper states that, on December-■ 16 an interview took place .between Colonel Seely and the general officers commanding, when the possibility of the officers' resignations was brought to Colonel Seely's notice. •■-■..■■. Colonel "Seely dealt with.the legal question, and laid it down that a soldier could not shelter himself from civil law behind his superior's order. If that order was' unreasonable and

outrageous; fof instance, if tho was called upon to massacre a demonstration of Orangemen who were not endangering their neighbours' lives, the soldiers were justified in refusing to obey. What they were required to face at present was the possibility of troops being called on to support the civil power and protect life and property when the police were unable to do so. Colonel Seely declared he would hold the officers mdi responsible. There was nothing in their commands subversive of discipline. - ;"

COLONEL SEELY. It is rumoured that Colonel Seely, at Monday's Cabinet meeting offered to-resign, but this offer was not accepted.

WHAT DID THE DOCUMENTS CONTAIN? ' Questioned if the documents include War Office instructions to. Sir Arthur Paget;- Lord Morley replied that it would be a dubious precedent to publish highly confidential instructions. •-''■•

Mr Asquith, similarly questioned, replied that the documents obviously cannot deal with matters which were oral."

AMAZING RUMOURS. (Receivod March 26, 8.15 a.iil:) London, March 25. The .Daily Telegraph, the Times, and other papers state that amazing rumours are in circulation that the Government is so impressed with the reports of. the increasing efficiency of the Ulster volunteers that it is determined the volunteers must be surprised and disarmed.

The Hon. AVinston Churchill suggested. that the. troops should be moved secretly aiid rapidly.

AVarships are stationed at Liffy, the third battle scpiadroh has been ordered to. Lamlash, and the fourth destroyer division sailed from Southampton, its tion being unknown.

Sir Arthur Paget, at a blunt conference with officer's, revealed a scheme, and wireless messages, stopped the movements of the battleships on Saturday, and the destroyer division returned to Southampton.

The Army-Council, on March 14, believing Armagh, Omagh, Carrickfergus, and Enniskiilen wero liable to attack, instructed Sir Arthur Paget to take special precautions. Sir Arthur telegraphed that all the officers of the sth. Lancers, except two, were resigning their commissions, and he feared the same condition prevailed in the 16th Lancers. He also feared the men would refuse to move.

Sir Arthur Paget . telegraphed on the 20th: The Brigadier and 57 officers of tho 3rd Cavalry Brigade preferred dismissal if ordered to the North. The Army Council replied authorising the suspension of the seniors, and ordered General Gough and the officers commanding the sth and 16th Lancers to attend at the War Office; that officers were being sent to relieve them forthwith, and that the resignations of all officers should'be refused.

GENERAL COUGH'S REPORT, The White Paper continued: General Gough reported that his officers were unanimusly of the opinion that further information was'essential before they should be called upon at such short notice to form decisions vitally affecting their future, especially a clear definition regarding the duty required of them in Ulster. If thenduty consisted of the preservation of property and the maintenance

of order, they were all prepared to carry out the orders. If it involved military operations against Ulster, they would prefer dismissal. On the. 23rd, General Gough asked whether, in the event of Home Rule becoming law, they would be called upon, under the expression of "maintaining law and order," to enforce Home Rule. He insisted on this point being made clear, and Jbjxe v reply initialled by Colonel Seely, General French, and Lieut.-General Ewart. On the 23rd they authorised General Gough to inform the Brigade Council that the Government was satisfied there had been a misunderstanding, and it was the duty of all soldiers to obey the Council's commands for the protection of property, to support the civil power in the event of disturbances, and to protect lives. Sir Arthur Paget put it to the officers that the Government must retain its right to use the troops in support of civil power and. the maintenance of order, but it did not intend to take the advantage t ocrush political opposition to the policy and principles of Home Rule. COLONIAL FEELING. Speaking in the House of Commonds, Mr Greenwood said there was not a colonial in the Empire who was npt -shocked by the events of the last few days.

COLONEL SEELY RESIGNS. (Received March 26, 9.15 a.m.) Colonel Seely has resigned. (Received 9.55 a.m.) Mr Bonar Law said there were many gaps in the White Paper which required filling in before an adequate discussion was possible. Colonel Seely said he would conceal nothing. The White Paper included all the instructions- given Sir Arthur Paget, but there were oral instructions respecting the movements of troops, also numer-. ous consultations, of which no memoranda was kept.

Mr Amery, M.P. for Birmingham South, asked: ' "Will Mr Churchill state whether he hoped that purely precautionary measures would lead to fighting and bloodshed?" Mr Churchill repudiated the "hellish insinuation." Amidst an uproar, the Speaker ordered Mr Churchill to withdraw the epithet, and Mr Churchill reluctantly withdrew it.

Colonel Seely added that Sir Arthur Paget's officers honestly believed a plan existed to overwhelm Ulster by a surprise attack. They were unaware that they were only being asked to support the civil power. Sir Arthur denied the accuracy of the letter purporting to give his phrase that "the country would be in a blaze" by Saturday. He said he meant a blaze in the press. Colonel Seely accepted the responsibility for granting conditions to General Gough and admitted that he has misled Cabinet, inadvertently. He was honest in "his intent j: therefore he tendered his resignation. ... The suggestion that the King toot any initiative in. the matter, he said, was absolutely unfounded.

Premier Asquith said the coercion of Ulster could never happen, and never would happen, if Ulster took, advantage of the Government's offer. When Cabinet met to deal with General Gough, they authorised the : Army Council to supply him with a document explicitly setting out the Army's duty, without giving assurance of any. sort. * Afterwards, Colonel Seely, without Cabinet's knowledge, added a paragraph giving the assuronce. The -Premier, in conclusion, emphasised the fact that Cabinet .would never permit the demands for assurance which would place the Government" and the. House of Commons at . the mercy of the navy and the military. He declined to accept Colonel Seely's resignation, as it would be ungenerous and unjust to do so.. (Received 10.20 a.m.) Melbourne, March 26. Mr Horsfall, a prominent pastoralist, has cabled to Sir Edward Carson stating that, as Premier Asquith refuses to hold a referendum, he will give £20,000 to help the Ulstermen if they are driven to fight.

Mr Balfour formally moved rejection of the Consolidated Fund Rill,