ULSTER READY TO ACT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15659, 13 July 1914, Page 7

ULSTER READY TO ACT.

DISTRUST OF GOVERNMENT

"CRISIS AT ITS HEIGHT."

BELFAST " DEMONSTRATION.

BRITISH VOLUNTEERS READY

By Telegraph—Press Association—

(Received July 12, 5.5 p.m.)

London, July if. The official Ulster Provisional Government has resolved that it is willing to consider any proposal preserving Ulstermen's rights under the Imperial Parliament, but that distrust of the Government's bona, fides I has compelled it to press on with ar-; rangements to resist the imposition! of Home Rule. It has instructed its executive to act accordingly, and has enjoined it upon its supporters to sec that cveryono within Ulster ! will be enabled to enjoy full civil J and religious freedom. It has urged ! loyalists to maintain the same re- 1 straint as hitherto in carrying out i whatever forward steps the execu-1 tivc may consider desirable. |

Power to Take Action. Tho Provisional Government has also adopted a resolution leaving it to Sir Edward Carson and the executive to say when and what decisive action should be taken without again calling the delegates together. Sir Edward Carson said that the Government's behaviour was most unsatisfactory, and something should be done to compel them to make up their minds.

The meeting in Belfast was held in private. Four hundred armed volunteers guarded the Ulster Hall during the meeting.

Sir Edward Carson Welcomed.

Sir Edward Carson had an enthusiastic welcome at Belfast, where the armed volunteers gave the mili- J tary salute upon his arrival at the parade ground. He was greeted by a crowd many thousands strong. , Accompanied by Mr. Walter Long r he walked through a double file of '. volunteers armed with rifles. Ho ; drove away in Captain Craig's ' motor-car, the front of which was adorned with a huge horseshoo of ' orange-coloured flowers and Union Jacks. ' A surprise demonstration awaited Sir Edward Carson's party at the gates of Ulster Hall. A party of j , 250 shipyard workers was drawn up in close order, having come to salute the Ulster leader. Sir Edward Carson was deeply touched. He conversed with the men who, after cheering «the King, returned to work. The delegates to the Provisional Parliament were from all parts of 'Ulster, representing all classes. The Duke of Abcrcorn and the Marquis of Londonderry were present, together with the Unionist members of Parliament representing Ulster constituencies. ! Promise by Orangemen.

The Orangemen guarantee good order for the Boync celebrations. Th» Unionist papers arc publishing despatches and editorials warning the public that a storm may burst at any moment if the Ulster men decide to sink their policy of inaction.

One paper declares that Sir Edward Carson, in a speech to the Ulster Council, said that the height of the crisis was hardly more than a matter of minutes distant.

Mr. Walter Long, in an interview at Belfast, said that the feeling was such that any attempt at peacemaking On a basis of compromise was doomed to failure.