THE ULSTER CRISIS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8654, 12 February 1914, Page 5

THE ULSTER CRISIS

OPENING OF PARLIAMENT VIGOROUS ADDRESSES. POSSIBILITY OF A SETTLEMENT. B/ Tolcjraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, February 10. King George and Queen Mary opened Parliament in state. The weather was fine. The Speech regrets the failure to solve the Home Rule question by agreement, and hopes for the goodwill and co-operation of all parties and creeds to secure a settlement of dissensions threatening gravo future difficulties. REGRETS EXPRESSED. The Speech from the Throne regretted that tho efforts to solve the Homo Rule question by agreement had not been successful, and expressed a hope that in dealing with a matter in which the hopes and fears of so many were keenly concerned, and which, unless handled now with foresight and judgment, and in a spirit of mutual .concession, threatened grave future difficulties, that the co-operatiou of all parties and creeds would secure a lasting settlement. Proposals would he submitted to reconstitute tho Second Chamber, and measures introduced to deal with industrial, agricultural, and housing questions. Imperial naturalisation, development of national education, and to give effect to the Safety at Sea Conference’s recommendations.

The Speech referred to friendly foreign relations, and the approaching visit, of the King and Queen to M. Poincare, tho President of Franco. Satisfactory negotiations were proceeding with Germany and Turkey regarding industrial and commercial interests in Mesopotamia, and the Persian Gulf. BOASTED SUPREMACY. Mr Long, in moving tho amendment to the Address-in-Reply, declared that the United Kingdom was for the first time for centuries threatened by civilians. One hundred thousand Ulstermen were determined at the cost of their lives to resist the Home Rule Bill. Bloodshed had been avoided only by Sir Edward Carson’s resolute and bravo leadership. He asked whether the Government was sure that the struggle would be confined to Ireland. Tho fact of the Government not daring to interfere in South Africa at tho present moment showed how idle was the Imperial Parliament’s boasted supremacy. Mr Long urged the Premier to pause and consult the electorate. It would he a crime of, the first magnitude if the soldiers shot down people in Ulster.' PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS. .. Mr Asquith (Prime Minister) replied that it was known prior to the 1910 election that the Parliament Act was to be used to carry the Homo Rule Bill. The question could be settled better by agreement than by a dissolution. Referring to conversations witJi Mr Bonar Law (leader of the Opposition), he said lie did not despair of the possibility of a settlement, and would use no last word regarding the matter.

After remarking that there was no thing the Government would not do, consistent with the fundamental principles of the Bill, to avoid civil war, the Premier concluded by announcing that the Government would without delay submit to the House suj. geeticns which would bo honestly put forward. SUGGESTED COMP HO WISE.

Sir Horace Plunkett, after confidential interviews with the Ulster leaders, proposes that Protestant "Ulster should accept the Home Rule Bill, a condition being that a olebiscite shcuid decide at the end of a fiied period whether Ulster shall continue to be subject to the Irish Parliament. Ho also proposes that the Ulster volunteers should be given an opportunity to organise as a Territorial force, thus preserving an ultimate safeguard on which to rely for the preservation of their liberties.