HOME RULE

Otago Witness, Issue 3148, 15 July 1914, Page 29

HOME RULE

AMENDING BILL IN THE LORDS. LONDON, July 6. In the Louse of Lbrds the amending Bill (Irish Home Rule) was read a second time by 273 to 10. The amendments to the Home Rule Amending Bill provide for the exclusion of Ulster province and the abolition of the time limit, with the Secretary of State as the administrative authority instead of the Lord-Lieutenant. July 7. Ten “ die-hards ” voted for Lord Willoughby de Broke’s motion for the rejection of the Amending Bill. Lord Roberts, speaking to the amendment, said that the present crisis affected the very roots of national existence. Any attempt to use the military to coerce Ulster would break and ruin the army. He urged, in the cause of patriotism, that they should drop party differences and seek a national solution to avert inexpressible disaster to the army and nation. Lord Curzon favoured a convention, but time was too precious and the tension too acute to allow of that course. He could not advocate this solution when he heard the tramp of armed men. The amending Bill must fill the gap till a permanent settlement was devised.

Lord Crewe said that if dropping Home Rule and scrapping the Government policy were to be the preliminaries to a conference or convention for permanent settlement, such proposals could not be entertained. Ho asked the Opposition if the total exclusion of Ulster were included in the Bill, would they guarantee against a civil conflict? He was not ashamed to say that he heartily dreaded the idea of a civil conflict. July 8. In the House of Lords, the Earl of Dunraven has given notice of motion of an amendment to suspend Home Rule until a commission reports on the constitutionalrelations of the component parts of the Kingdom. Lord Mac Donnell has drafted a scheme of Home Rule within Home Rule, which is virtually a new Bill, in substitution for the amending Bill. It provides for an Ulster Council elected on a system of proportional representation to control education and services administered by the Irish Local Government Board and the Department of Agriculture. The council may be abolished by a poll of the Ulster electorates after the quinquennium. Lord Selborne’s amendment omitting Ulster from the poll regarding exclusion was carried by 153 votes to 35. LONDON, July 8.

Lord Macdonald’s scheme for Ulster autonomy—described as a species of Home Rule within Home Rule, and providing for a referendum of Ulster voters at the end of five years’ exclusion—was negatived by 196 votes to 20. Lords Crew and Haldane opposed it, and Lords Loreburn, Courtney, and Bryce supported it. The Marquis of Lansdowne’s amendment omitting the time limit of exclusion was carried by 138 votes to 39. July 9. The Marquis of Crewe, in demanding that a division be made on the Opposition’s amendment, said that the Government was unable to agree to the’’ Marquis of Lansdowne’s exclusion amendment. It was not right to coerce Ulster. The Roman Catholics would accept something, but did not want Lord Middleton’s amendment, substituting the Secretary of State for the Lord Lieutenant, to be passed without the Government opposition. The Marquis of Lansdowne, in reply to the Marquis of Crewe’s challenge of yesterday, declined to guarantee that there would be no civil conflict. Matters had arrived at such a pass that it was impose sible to guarantee what would happen in the next few weeks..

Lord Haldane said the Opposition were forcing the country into danger. They hoped to come into power shortly, and would have four-fifths of Ireland against them, yet they had not one clear idea of how to deal with the situation.

Viscount St. Aldwyn’s amendment, reducing the Irish members at Westminster from the Home Rule area from 42 to 27, was adopted. Lord Halsbury demanded to know whether the Government proposed to accept the amendments. They had a right to know before the amending Bill was read a third time. He warned the Government that unless action was taken promptly it would be -esponsible for bloodshed. July 10. , The House of Lords has completed re casting the amending Bill. Lord Halsbusy’s amendments removing the Unionists of Lliter and the South-west of Ireland from the jurisdiction of Home Rule, and the judiciary also, were adopted, as well as lord Mac Donnell’s proposal to withdraw the Lands Purchase Acts from the Irish Parliament’s control, and Lord Kenmore’s motion for perpetuating Imperial control over the Royal Irish Constabulary. It is expected that the report stage will bo reached on Monday, and the third reading be taken on Tuesday. MR BIRR-ELL SANGUINE. LONDON, July 12. Speaking at a Liberal garden party at Bristol, the Secretary for Ireland (Mr Birrell) said the situation was grave, but he was never more sanguine that a reasonable settlement would be reached. They

must keep their tempers, and be fully determined. They were not going to leave the fruits of their victory, and the Liberals would only be satisfied if they secured the Irish people Home Rule. MUNITIONS OF WAR J3EIZEU. The Ulster Volunteer leaders have landed 200,000 cartridges at Bangor. A sergeant of the Bedfordshires "was arrested when instructing the National Volunteers at revolver practice. A quantity of ammunition and 40 Colt machine guns of the latest pattern, costing £IOO each, have been landed on the County Down coast for the Ulster volunteers. The Customs officers at* Londonderry seized a furniture van containing 200 Mauser rifles and a quantity of ammunition.

The Customs seized 240 sacks of cement that were landed at Belfast, each containing live cartridges. A number of revolvers were seized at Londonderry.

A hospital service of 3000 nurses has been organised in connection with the Ulster volunteers.

A steamer has landed at Belfast 300 rifles and 10,000 cartridges, concer.led in tyres. A portion of the consignment has been despatched to Derry. It is reported at Tralee that 2500 rifles of French pattern have been landed on the Kerry coast. POSITION OF ULSTER. LONDON, July 10. Captain Craig, speaking at a meeting held at Belfast last night as a preliminary to the meeting of the Provisional Government to-day, disclosed the preamble of the provisional constitution, which provides for the carrying on of the Imperial Government’s present functions. If Home Rule becomes operative, the Government will hold Ulster in trust until the restoration to the Imperial Government, when the Provisional Government will cease to exist. Captain Craig announced that the situation was extremely delicate, and the outlook as black as can be. Mr, P. H. Illingworth (Chief Liberal Whip) having indicated the possibility of the early renewal of conversations between the Government and the Unionist leaders, Sir E. Carson, on leaving London, said he regretted that he was going to Ulster without any token of peace and goodwill from the Government. He had received alarming reports of the intense desire of Ulster for immediate action. The Times states that a number of Liberals who are opposed to any coercion of Ulster, and are nervous lest the Irish question should again break the party, are forming a “cave” to urge the Government to grant further concessions in order to avert a civil conflict. Orangemen guarantee good order during the Boyne celebrations. Unionist papers publish despatches and editorials warning the public that the sto?’in may burst at any moment when the Ulstermen may sink inaction. One paper declares that Sir E. Carson, in a speech to the Ulster Council, said that the height of the crisis was hardly more than a matter of minutes.

Mr W. H. Long, interviewed at Belfast, said the feeling was such that any attempt at peacemaking on a basis of compromise was doomed to failure. The Liberal papers declare that Ulster has been invated by a horde of Tory journalists, and they warn their readers not to accept sensational statements. They express disgust that at a moment when moderates of all parses were striving for a settlement, was deliberately chosen to scftre the public and intimidate the Government. General Pole Carew inspected the Glasgow Ulster volunteers, bidding them learn to hit the mark. A British League to support Ulster is being enrolled in England, Wales, and Scotland, and 20,000 are pledged to go to Ireland at a month’s notice. Mr Churchill, speaking at Dundee, said he believed a settlement would be reached to which both Houses would contribute. THE ULSTER CONVENTION. Sir E. Carson was greeted at Belfast by a crowd of many thousands. Accompanied by the Right Hon. Walter Long, M.P., he walked through a double file of volunteers who bore arms and rifles. Sir Edward drove in Captain Craig’s motor, the front of which was adorned with a huge horseshoe of orange-coloured flowers and Union Jacks. The delegates to the Provisional Parliament came from all parts of Ulster and represented all classes. The Duke of Abercorn, the Marquis of Londonderry, and the Ulster Unionist members were present. Only a few police were present. Armed volunteers encircled Ulster Hall. The meeting of the Provisional Government of Ulster was held in private at Belfast. Four hundred armed volunteers guarded the approaches to the Ulster Hall.

The Provisional- Government adopted a resolution leaving it to Sir E. Carson and the executive to say when and what decisive action should be taken, without again calling the delegates together. Sir E. Carson said that the Government’s behaviour was most unsatisfactory, and something should be done to compel it to make up its mind. An official intimation has been issued that the Ulster Provisional Government has resolved that it is willing to consider any proposal for preserving the rights of Ulster under the Imperial Parliament, but it distrusts the Government’s bona

fides and is compelled to press on arrangements to resist the imposition of Home Rule, and has instructed its executive to act accordingly. It enjoins upon supporters to see that everyone within Ulster enjoys full civil t and religious freedom, and urges loyalists to maintain the same restraint as hitherto, carrying out at the same time whatever forward steps the executive considers desirable.

A surprise demonstration awaited Sir E. Carson’s party at the gates of Ulster Hall. Two hundred and fifty shipyard workers were drawn up in close order, having marched from Craigavon to salute the leader.

Sir E. Carson, who was deeply touched, conversed with the men, who after giving ringing cheers returned to work. Sir E. Carson inspected 2000 men at Larne. He asked them to have confidence in their leaders. He saw no evidence of peace, and Ulstermen must he prepared while a shadow remained. Unless they secured peace with honour there must be war with honour.

Captain White (son. of the defender of Ladysmith) has resigned his command of Nationalist Volunteers at Londonderry on the ground of his authority dyeing overridden. The Nationalist volunteers in the South of Ireland bitterly resent the restriction imposed by the Arms Proclamation, and declare they will not only get rifles, but will carry them in public. Major Crean reviewed 4000 Nationalist volunteers at Castle Bellingham. later information regarding the membership of the Nationalist volunteers shows that it numbers 85,000. The authorities have decided that only the police from country districts shall be on duty in Ulster on the 12th. Disturbances are feared if they are drawn from the large towns of The police detailed for duty are being armed with rifles and ball cartridge.

The commemoration services throughout Ulster were quiet. The Nationalist volunteers in Derry have intimated that, in the interests of peace, they are organising pickets over the route for to-morrow’s Orange procession. Roman Catholic clergy in Ulster have solemnly warned their congregations against the slightest interference with Orange processions, urging them to avoid the various routes. One hundi’ed extra police have been sent to Londonderry and 20 extra to Moneymore. Nationalists and Unionists came into conflict at Killen. Stones were thrown and revolvers fired, and one Nationalist was severely mauled. AMERICAN IRISHMEN’S DEMANDS. LONDON, July 6. • Mr Redmond has received a copy of an approved resolution from the New \ork Committee declaring that it is determined to arm the Nationalist volunteers, otherwise the sad story of Grattan’s volunteers will be repeated. The resolution insists on Mr Redmond forcing the Government to withdraw the arms proclamation or else to relinquish the control of the Nationalist volunteers. WASHINGTON, July 10. Mr Michael Ryan, president of the United Irish League, states that there was necessity and urgency for American sympathisers with the Irish National volunteer movement to be careful. No appeal, unless it ’ came from the Redmondites, should be allowed a hearing, in

cas£ there was any likelihood of the movement being captured by a clamorous section opposing Mr Redmond. MELBOURNE ORANGEMEN’S MESSAGE. An Orange meeting resolved to send the following cable to the British Government : Overflowing and profoundly enthusiastic demonstrations implore Great Britain not to imperil the Empire. Ulster must repeat; “No surrender I” There are army and navy men enrolled here, and at least 250 are prepared to leave Australia to fight for Ulster if necessary.