HOME RULE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 8683, 17 March 1914, Page 5

HOME RULE

SHOOTING OR VOTING

THE UNIONISTS’ DUTY "MUST AGITATE FOE A MAJORITY.” •■GOVERNMENT WILL NOT BE BULLIED.” B/ T«l«ffraph Press Association —Copyplffb* LOXDOX, March 15. Mr Winston Churchill (thirst Lord of the Admiralty), speaking at Bradford, said that an agreement atone ivo'dld make it worth while to recast the Homo Rule Bill. The Unionists’ duty was clear. If they disliked the Act they must agitato for a majority, and" then if they won they could amend or repeal the law. The Liberals sought to allay old hatreds in Ireland, not to create now ones. He wanted bo give them what they wished not to force upon them what they disliked. Mr Asquith’s offer, on principle, was the last offer the Government could, or ought, to make. It the Tories rejected it, it would only bo because they preferred shooting to voting. He was certain that the first British soldier or bluejacket killed by Orangemen would raise such an explosion as the Tories little appreciated, and would shako the foundations of society. Sir Edward Carson was wrong on the merits of the question, and history would prove him so. Sir Edward Carson thought of the Ulster Convention, which was to graciously consider tho matter while the Imperial Parliament stood on tip-toe outside waiting for the verdict. When ho (Mr Churchill) looked at the situation as now unfolded, ho felt that they had had about enough of this sort of thing. , ~ , r . , Concluding, he said the Government would not allow themselves to be bullied. Doubtless, if there were bloodshed, it would be lamentable, but the cowardly abdication of tho Executive s responsibility Would be worse. Law and order must prevail. "Wo are not going to have Britain sunk to Mexico’s condition,” he said. ‘‘lf Ulster seeks peace, she knows where to find it, but if every concession is spurned, if Ulster becomes the tool of party calculations, if the civil and Parliamentary systems are. brought to a crude challenge of force, if reckless chatter ends in the disclosure of a sinister revolution, then let us go forward and put these grave matters to tho proof.”

IRISH PARTY “COVERED WITH INFAMY.” “FULL SPEED ASTERN,” LONDON, March 15. At the All-for-Ireland League’s conference at Cork, Mr W. O’Brien (leader of the Independent Nationalists) stated that the Irish party had accepted a modified bill and covered itself with infamy,, Referring to Mr Redmond’s speech before the opening of Parliament, when he remarked that the Government should go “Full steam ahead,” Mr O’Brien said the “full speed ahead” order was swallowed, but full speed astern was now the order. A rotten barque was flying for its life, and its Hibernian crew were waiting an opportunity to throw the trembling captain overboard. Over teh thousand places have been opened in England for the signing of the British covenant. NO ELECTION TILL BILLS PASS. LONDON, March . 15, Mr P. H. Illingworth (Chief Government Whip), speaking at Bradford, said that there would be no general election until the Home Rule, the Church Disestablishment, and the Plural Voting Bills were passed. Mr John Dillon (Nationalist), in an address at Newcastle, said he was convinced that ft compromise was best calculated to secure victory. If the Unionists won the next election they could repeal the bill if they ■ dared, or cut out Ulster, when the Nationalists would renew the struggle, with an Irish Parliament' at their back. MR CHURCHILL’S PEREMPTORY TONE. MAY INCREASe’dIFFICULTTES. MINISTRY WILL NOT BE BLACKMAILED.

(Received March 16, 10.80 p.in.) LONDON, March 16,

Unionist newspapers complain of Mr Churchill's peremptory tone, which is calculated to increase the difficulties of the Premier's immediate task. They argue that the challenge of a “take it or leave it” offer, as stated, is unjustified until the Premier discloses far more about it than ho has heretofore done.

Meanwhile, to-day’s statement is eagerly awaited. It is understood that Mr Asquith does not intend to make any further offer, or to withdraw the existing one at present. The “Daily Chronicle’’ attributes the Unionist objection to the Ulster time limit to a belief that two general elections would not displace the present Government. The “Chronicle” adds that the frflftistry will offer an olive branch and is anxious to conciliate the Unionists, bat they will not bo blackmailed. AN AUSTRALIAN PARALLEL. (Received March 16, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. Sir John Fuller, in a letter comparing the Ulster case with West Australia, says that had West Australia been threatened with definite inclusion in the Commonwealth whether or hot she liked it, she would not, in all probability, to-day bo playing her important part within the Commonwealth. HARDENING OF OPINION. Bjr Teleffraph—Press Association —Copyrlslti (Received March 16, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. “The Times” declares that there is distinct hardening of opinion .in all quarters. Mr Asquith will probably make it clear, if the offer should prove ultimately unacceptable as a basis of settlement, that it will not bo submitted to a vote in the House of Commons, or given any . other mark of permanence.