HOME RULE.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 12753, 27 March 1914, Page 5

HOME RULE.

COLONEL SEELY'S STATEMENT

KING DID NOT INTERFERE

By Electric Telegragh—Press Association —Copyright. Received 8.45. p.m. LONDON, March' 26.

In the House of Commons, Col. Seely emphasised that title suggestion that the King had taken any initiative in this matter was absolutely foundationless in the broadest sense. His Majesty took no initiative of any kind. Col. Seely repeated this amid loud Opposition cheers. He continued that it appeared that Government 's and Sir Arthur Paget's movement to protect the depots might result in civil commotion and therefore he took steps to support the troops but he was anxious to avoid provocative action. The resignations were due to complete honest misapprehension. Sir Arthur Paget, in a statement to the officers, said he believed there was a plan to overwhelm Ulster by a surprise attack. Explaining the two paragraphs in the document 'he said during the interview with the officers he asked General Gough how the" difficulty had arisen. General Gough replied: "Because I thought I was going .to be asked to coerce Ulster and this seemed to get outside lawful orders." Col. Seely continued: "I said Government must retain the right to use the forces of the Crown but it is proper to tell you clearly that Government has no intention of taking advantage of the right to protect the civil power in order to crush political opposition.General Gough said you had better put this clear statement in writing." Colonel Seely assented. The Adju-tant-General was prepared to draft the first three clauses. Cabinet discussed the document and Colonel Seely's conversation with the offipers. During the Cabinet meeting Colonel Seely went to Buckingham Palace and returned as the Cabinet was breaking up. He added two paragraphs in or ; der that the document would confirm the statement made to the officers in the morning. Colonel Seely concluded that he did not know Cabinet was seriously considering the document and regarded it as final.

"THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH." • Received 10.10 p.m. LONDON, March 26. Mr Balfour pointed out that Colonel Seely still adheres to the two paragraphs and presumed the Government has agreed to them as Colonel Seely has remained in the Cabinet. Certainly the paragraphs represented facts and Colonel Seely has told the country the trtuh in words which are unmistakeable words and which the whole Army will take as charter. It is now hopeless to force disruptive legislation at the point of the bayOnet,

MR ASQUITH REFUSE COLONEL SEELY'S RESIGNATION. Mr Asquith said he regretted that a most unfair, inconsiderate and improper attempt was made to bring the King's name into political events. From the first to the last His Majesty observed in every way the position of a Constitutional monarch. He was not going to accept Colonel Seely's resignation because it was ungenerous and unjust when an error had been committed in a time of great stress and anxiety.

STATEMENT BY SIR EDWARD GREY. Received 10.40 p.m. LONDON, March 26. Mr Ramsay Mac Donald said if the position was revealed by the White Paper as being Government's position it could not have lived twenty-four hours. He was delighted that it was not Government's position. Sir Edward Grey says that when Cabinet authorised communications to General Gough, General Gough's letter of the 23rd was not before them. The paragraphs were harmless in themselves but Cabinet was unable to endorse them because they appeared as an answer to General Gough. Government still maintained that General Gough returned unconditionally and it will be well-known to him tomorrow that Government stood by the first portion of the communication and is responsible for nothing else. Government never contemplated a force to coerce Ulster but Government was prepared to use a force to any extent to make the will of the country prevail. That contingency, however, would not arise for a long time. He looked with the' greatest loathing and reluctance at any prospect of coercion. Still he hoped it would be avoided but one road to certain revolution was for Government to allow its policy to be dictated to and influenced by officers.

SIR E. CARSON'S VIEWS. Received 12.45 a.m. LONDON, March 26. Sir E. Carson, interviewed, said any previous Government would be compelled to resign after the extraordinary muddle, but the Parliament Act and Payment of Members Bill enabled Cabinet to carry on without regard to decency.

USE OF ARMY FOR PARTY PURPOSES REPUDIATED. Received 11.10 p.m. LONDON, March 26. In the House of Commons, Mr Chamberlain repudiated the a suggestion that it was intended to use the Army for party purposes. He said the country now knew that Lord Morley assisted in drafting the paragraphs of the documents given to General Gough. If the pledge Colonel Seely and Lord Morley gave was repudiated as men of honour they could not stay in the Cabinet any longer.

THE TWO GREAT ISSUES. A STORMY SCENE. Mr Churchill, in closing the debate, said Lord Morley's responsibility was that he neither revised or examined the additional paragraphs. The two great issues which had emerged from the proceedings were Parliament versus the Army and the Army versus the people. The Opposition laid down the principle that it was always right that a soldier should shoot a Radical Labourite. There were shouts of protest, the Opposition crying " Liar!"

DAMAGES FOR SEIZURE OF I * ARMS?. A special jury at Belfast Assizes awarded Hunter, son of a gunsmith, damages from the authorities for seizure of goods un<W *ne proclamation prohibiting, arms. The judge restricted the hearing to facts and left the legal question to the Higher i Court.. PRESS OPINIONS.

Lord I®orley, in the House of Lords, Col. Seely's explanation and incidentaly admitttfe that he was cognisant with the complete document which-Col. Seely showed him to enable him (Lord Morley) to answer questions. The Chronicle states that Col. Seely has cut an inglorious figure, but is a fine type of English gentleman. His manliness and the candour of his apology has arcused universal sympathy. The House of Commons is ready to forgive him for hts itoult which he frankly confessed. The Daily Mail states that when Cabinet on Tuesday heard General French had signed General 1 Gough's guarantee Mr Lloyd George threatened to resign unless Col. Seely did, Col. Seely tendered his resignation. It became evident on Wednesday that Col. Seely's actions had not involved Mr Churchill and Lord Morley. As Mr Asquith stood sturdily by Col. Seely Mr Lloyd George withdrew his opposition.

WHAT THE PRECEDENT MAY MEAN. (Times. —Sydney Sun Service.) Received 5.30 p.m. LONDON, March 26.

Mr Ward, 1 at Stoke on Trent, prophesied that in , the next turbulent strike the soldiers following the precedent of their officers would decline to suppress riots. ,