HOME RULE CRISIS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXV, Issue 16518, 6 April 1914, Page 7

HOME RULE CRISIS.

MR ASQUITH AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. POPULAR DEMONSTRATIONS. SIR EDWARD CARSON’S MESSAGE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, April 3. King’s Cross station was crowded to farewell Mr Asquith, who was proceeding to Fife. The Liberal Federation arranged a demonstration. Mr Churchill, Mr M’Kenna, Mr Burns, and many members of tho House of Commons cheered and sang “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow ” and “Rule Britannia.” Ladies, except Ministers’ wives were not admitted, for fear of suffragettes. The Asquith demonstration was renewed at Grantham, York and Newcastle. The Premier declared that he never felt in better heart. A suffragette attempted to board the train, and fell on tho platform, unconscious. MR HOLMAN’S MESSAGE. SYDNEY, April 3. The Grand Council of the Australian Protestant Defence Association indignantly denies the truthfulness of the statement cabled to England by Mr Holman regarding Ulster. The local Ulster Association has cabled to tho London “ Times,” and also to Sir Edward Carson, stating that Mr Holman’s message is misleading, and has been questioned in Parliament. (Mr Holman cabled to Mr Redmond that Australian opinion wholly condemns tho disappointment and delay to tho hopes of tho Irish people to make Ireland a united nation.) MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIA. SIR EDWARD CARSON IN REPLY TO MR REDMOND. (Received April 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. Sir Edward Carson, in a special message to Australia, states:— “It is difficult to conceive a more deliberate misrepresentation of the facts than Mr Redmond’s message published in Australia on March 25. The Nationalists’ disgraceful attack on the Army is quite consistent with the record of men who never have lost an opportunity to insult British soldiers and the British flag, and among whom are still men who fought beside England’s enemies in South Africa. “ Lord Morley’s statement in the House of Lords sufficiently belies Mr Redmond’s insinuations. Speaking on the Government’s behalf on Monday, Lord Morley said that there had not been a single case of disobodience of orders by any officer or man in connection with recent events, and the conduct of the troops had been exemplary. The Government on its own initiative gave the officers at Curragh tho alterA«||§a of fighting against the Ulster jQfiHkf 3 or resigning their commissionffand being dismissed. The officers were free to choose, and choso the lattor course, although thereby they forfeited their pensions and ruined their careers, which in many cases involved the total loss of livelihood. Such selfsacrifice is a test of sincerity. These seventy officers preferred to sacrifice themselves rather than lead troops against loyalist subjects of the King, and who rally under the Union Jack. “ Let it bo clearly understood that the Army was dragged into the present struggle only because the Government did not dare take tho people’s opinion at a new general election or a referendum before forcing its infamous proposals through Parliament.” NOT A GOVERNMENT INSTRUMENT. LONDON, April 4. Lord Robert Cecil, speaking at Ashwell, said that tho Army was not an instrument of the Government, but of tho Crown. Soldiers and civilians were equal before the law as regards obedience to orders. They must consider whether these were lawful or not. LEAGUE OF BRITISH COVENANTERS. A LONDON MEETING. • (Received April 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 4. Mr W. H. Long presided at a meeting in London to establish a League of British Covenanters. Lord Roberts was elected president, and on rising to return thanks he was cheered for several minutes. Sir Edward Carson received an ovation. Ho described the Ulster volunteers as very largely trade unionists. Lord Milner declared that the time was short, but still there was time to raise a storm of protest and compel an appeal to the country. SUPPOSED CONSIGNMENT OF ARMS. COPENHAGEN, April 3. The Fanny, which has a consignment of arms, Las sufficient coal only for a fortnight, which precludes a vessel of her size reaching South America. UNIONIST DEMONSTRATION. GREAT GATHERING AT HYDE PARK. SUFFRAGETTES’ RIVAL MEETING. (Received April 6, 12.25 a.m.) LONDON, April 5. A remarkable unionist demonstration was held at Hyde Park. Despite rain twenty-two processions, representing seventy-six London constituencies, with bands and flags, marched to Hyde Park. The speakers, from fourteen platforms, included Mr Balfour, Mr Bonar Law, Sir Edward Carson, Lord Milner, Mr Austen Chamberlain, Lord Selborne and Mr F. E. Smith. Resolutions were carried protesting against the Army being used to shoot down Ulster volunteers, and demanding a general election. The meeting concluded with the singing of tho hymn “ 0 God Our Help in Ages Past,” and tho National Anthem. There were some labourite interruptions and tho singing of “The Red Flag,” and the suffragettes held a rival procession and a meeting, which resulted in disturbances. Mrs Drummond and others were arrested. '

SPEECH BY MR ASQUITH.

THE DUTY OF THE ARMY. (Received April 6, 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 5.

Mr Asquith at Ladybank ridiculed the legend that tho Government selected the moment of making proposals to settle Homo Rulo to engineer a plot to provoke Ulster. There had been a genuine misunderstanding and lionest mistakes regarding tho Army, but ho had good reason to know the zeal and devotion to duty pervading the military and naval forces. “I am certain,” he said, “that they can be counted on from the highest to the lowest, without exception, to undertake the duties which they may be required to discharge. I pray that the Army is not to become a political instrument. It has no place and no voice in framing our policy or moulding the laws. Tho true doctrine of army administration was laid down by the elder Pitt 170 year's ago. My duty is to see the Army is fit in the evershifting conditions for its primary duty.' The Array will hear nothing of politics from me. In return I shall expect to hear nothing of politics from the Army.” The responsibility for the preservation of domestic peace, ho continued, lay with the magistrates and police, and the Army’s aid could not and ought not to be involved except in an emergency, which happily was rare. When such occasions arose it was the duty of the soldier to comply with the demand of the civil power. The present Tory doctrine struck at the very root not only of army discipline, but of democratic government.

INTERVIEW WITH AN ULSTERMAN. [From Our Correspondent.] INVERCARGILL, April 4. An Ulsterman arrived at Invercargill during the week on his way to Dunedin, where he expects to obtain an appointment in an occupation in which lie was engaged in Ireland. Naturally, he had much to say with regard to what is going on in his native land. Being from tho North, he has no sympathy with Home Rule. As a matter of fact, in his spare time he drilled volunteers and was in command of a squad that joined in a demonstration in one of the centres shortly beforo he left. Asked about the opposition to Home Rule, ho said the people would not go under it. In addition, Ulster was heavily taxed at the present, and would not be able to bear the strain if a change came about. _ He also ventured to say that the British Government had no idea of the number of rifles and quantity of ammunition in the possession of Ulstermen. The now colonist was accompanied as far as Australia by three other Ulstermen. Asked why he should leave Ireland when conditions were so unsettled, tho visitor replied that he had wished to como to New Zealand ten years ago, and took advantage of the first favourable opportunity of. doing so.