IRISH UNREST

Southland Times, Issue 17608, 24 March 1914, Page 5

IRISH UNREST

THE HOME RULE BILL Concentration of Troops MR. ASQUITH’S STATEMENT The Position in Ulster . A WAS OFFICE OBSHCAA NO ULTIMATUM ISSUED By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. LONDON, March 22. Right Hon. D. Lloyd, George, Chancellor of the Exchequer, speaking litis afternoon at Huddersfield, said, a grave issue had arisen in the history of a Democratic Government. The country was Confronted with the greatest issue Since tho time of the Stuarts. Representative Government was at stake. In answer to a question whether tlie progressive Bills which the Tories opposed were: to be honoured or. thrown into the waste-paper basket Air Lloyd George said—“lf Liberalism flinches an inch before these insolent and arrogant plagues it is unfit any longer to be the instrument for the cont.-ol of a great Empire and it is time it made way for a sterner and more highly.mettled body of British progression. The Government means to confront this defiance of popular liberties with resolution and unwavering determination, \\ hatevor be the hazard. "We are not fighting about Ulster but for all That Is essential io civil liberty. Tho Orangemen professed to be shocked that force should be used for the settling up of a great free uni self-governing Parliament in Ireland When did Ulster acquire a detestation of coercion? Coercion presented no horrors when the Orangemen evicted Catholic peasants for the non-payment of extortionate rates. Ulster is a spoilt child. She has'heard so much about her volunteers that she thinks them something terrific. The Government’s proposal is to give her time for the swelling to subside. Tlie Opposition rejected the Government’s offer witli contempt and indignation. As regards the referendum the Oppositon had one in 1910 and 1 doubt whether the majority cf the Opposition members are anxious for a settlement. If the Ulster question were settled it would have no policy left. .Scurrility and tittle-tattle never carried a party anywhere except to tlie gutter." Right lion. H. H. Asquith (Prime Minister-, Hon. Winston Churchill (First Lord of the Admiralty). Right Hon. Colonel Seoiy (Minister for War), and Right Hon. A. Birreil (Secretary for Ireland) held a long consultation at Downing street to-day. Sir J. A. Simon, Attorney-C5-onej-.il, speaking at Manchester, denied that the moving of troops was provocative. Tlie days of the vague negation of Homo Rule, he said, were over. A demonstration in Hyde Bark against the use of tlie Army iu Ulster has been arranged for April 4. The speakers will include tlie majority of tlie Unionist front bench men. The Karl of Gallnvay proposes that a national subscription should he made to compensate officers for sacrificing their commissons because (hoy refuse to do the Government's dirty work. A sentry shot a soldier who was late for roll-on It while scaling the barracks wall at Newbridge. The man is in a critical condition. Special magistrates for Ulst-w nr l being sworn in at Dublin Unst.le, Sir E. Carson, the anti-Homc Rule leader, conferred with the leaders of the Ulster volunteers and arrangements have been completed for mobilising the forces. The removal of mounted troops from Curragh Camp has been cauc-Urd owing to the resignation of officers. One hundred and fifty Royal Engineers from Dublin witli trenching pontoons and apparatus have entrained for Belfast. The Observer states that LieutenantGeneral Kir A. H. V. Paget. Officer Commanding the Forces in Ireland since 1911, on Friday asked Brigadier-General Gough, commanding the 3rd Cavalry Brigade at Curragh. County Kildare, whether he was prepared to march againgt Ulster, and gave him two hours to cide. Brigadier-General Gough resigned on tho spot. The resignation of officers of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade and Morse Artillery witli five exceptions followed. The Observed- recalls Mi- John Churchill's action in IRSS and the. British officers in 1777 during the American revolution. The War Office denies that, an ultima turn lias been issued to tlie officers in Ireland that they must serve or resign. H. has no information as to wholesale resignations. An examination of tlie Curragh Camp magazine revealing a deficiency in the ammuniton to a large amount, including hundreds of thousands of rounds for small arms, an order has been issued to search the ordnance storemen in Ulster a.s they leave work. Tlie Daily Chronicle (G.) states that Mr Asquith will announce at an early ilate in tlie House of Commons his willingness to hold a General Election in July, provided tho Opposition co-operate in passing into law this session (lie abolition of Plural Voting, the Irish Home Rule, and the Welsh Church Disestablishment Bills. Brigadier-General Gough and seventy officers have resigned. General Paget, after communicating with Whitehall, informed them that tlie War Office accepted General Cough's and Major. Kearsey's resignations, but that tho" remainder wore liable for tlie consequences of refusing to obey orders. General Gougli and Major Kearsey. in reply, said they would stand by their brother officers. On an assurance being given that the movement of the troops was merely for the protection of Government property and assisting in the maintenance of order, the officers who resigned agreed to go to Ulster, but declared they would not participate in any hostilities. General Gough and Colonels M.cKewan and Parker, in response to a. summons, visited the War Office. There arc many provisional resignations in the infantry and artillery that are intended to he effective in the event of hostilities. Mr Bonar Law will to-morrow raise a debate on the situation, and exciting episodes are expected. The King has cancelled his visit io the Earl and Oountess of Denby in order to remain in close communication with Mm,isters. NO WARRANTS INTENDED. RESIGNATIONS THROUGH MISUNDERSTANDING. PREMIER INTERVIEWS THE ICING. LONDON, March 23. Received March 23, II p.m. Mr Asquith denies that a warrant was aver intended against the Ulster leaders nor was a general inquisition of the officers’ Intentions contemplated, inasmuch as the Government hopes that the contingency of the employment of troops against Ulster will never arise. It is hinted that Ministers’ belief that the Army officers’ resignations are due to an honest misunderstanding of the Government's intentions, which have erroneously given the Impression that it was intended to move troops against Ulster, General Paget’s assurance that the duties will bo confined strictly to police duty has been accepted, in the event of the regiments moving to the north. The authorities have removed large quantities of arms and ammunition from Omagh to Enniskillem. General Paget has moved 1200 troops to various points as a precaution against possible raids on stores. Mr Asquith states that the movement of the troops is now competed 1 The Prime Minister had an hour’s interview King yesterday. DORSETSHIRE MUTINY DENIED. ADDRESS BY A COMMANDER, SOLDIERS WILL DO THEIR DUTY. THE COMBATANTS AT CHURCH. LONDON, March 23. Received March 23. 11.10 p.m. The alleged mutiny of the Dorsetshire regiment is officially denied..

Major-General Lovrlck Friend, the 4on}mandeiv deolarep that it 1 Is i certain that every officer and soldier in the regiment'will do his duty to the Crown and Government if called u'pon to maintain order. General Forgusson, addressing the Manchester regiment at CUrragh, said that though hist and ills men's sympathies Were With Ulster locally they would obey tlie King's commands if ordered there. Detachments of the Inniskilling Fusiliers and Bedfordshire regiment and the Tyrone and Ulster volunteers attend the Gmagh parish church and sat in adjoining pews, in some cases they shared the same prayer books. When 'leaving the regulars and volunteers mutually saluted. < The War Office has informed officers domiciled in..Ulster, or whoso parents rosidc in Ulster, that they may temporarily resign their commissions until the trouble Is over. TH3E LATEST. A QUIET ASPECT. STOCK EXCHANGE BRIGHTER. PROCESSION IN LIVERPOOL. PRESS OPINION. LONDON, March 23. Received March ,24. 12.40 £Lm. Despite the movements of the troops the Stock Exchange has taken a more hopeful view- of the Ulster situation, anticipating a peaceful settlement. The tone of tho market has improved. Ulster continues calm. Government newspapers pronounce tho resignation of the officers as an attempt on the part of the aristocratic military ctist to destroy the Parliament Act. and declare that the time is opportune to revise tile system of recruiting officers. The Daily Mall states that thfe 4th Inniskillings. of Which a large number signed the covenant have been ordered to England, and adds that General Gough's brother, who is chief of staff at Aldershot, has resigned. Seventy-five thousand men marched in procession through Liverpool yesterdayin celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. Mr T. O’Connor declared that Home Rule had been won. The Liverpool Daily Post states that three thousand Irish Nationalists at Liverpool have secretly trained and are prepared to join their comrades in Ulster in the event of trouble. Liverpool's Ulster and Unionist force is totalled at one thousand five hundred. A POSSIBLE REMEDY. SINN FEIN CONVENTION. OPINION BY AN ALDERMAN. "NOT WORTH SHEDDING BLOOD FOR." ATTEMPT TO BURN A CHURCH. LONDON, March 23. Received March 23, 11.25 p.m. Mr Wason, M.P., in a letter to the newspapers suggests that sufficient members of tho House of Commons of all parties support tho self-expulsion of the counties until the federal system is established probably the Ministerialists and Unionist leaders will accept it. Sir Marcus Samuel offers ten thousand pounds towards a fund to ro-liex-c the families of the officers resigning til rough conscientious motives. The offer is conditional on the Unionist leader announcing the intention to restore the commissions. The Sinn Fein convention at Dublin resolved to resist any temporary or permanent partition in Ireland. Alderman Kelly remarked that the Horne Rule Bill was not worth shedding a drop of blood for It was no satisfaction to them to have their northern countrymen shot down by British guns. An attempt was made to burn the Protestant church at Cavan. The pulpit, was burnt and tlie hooks and surplices thrown into tlie street. EARL GREY SPEAKS OUT. (Par United Press Association.) AUCKLAND. March 23. Earl Grey, asked his opinion concerning the latest disquieting news regarding Irish Home Rule, said — “It looks like the ship of state going full steam ahead on to an iceberg. I cannot believe that the people of England will allow this Bill to receive the Royal Assent without such demonstrations as will make a general election ncccs.ssary before it becomes law." WHAT THE BILL MEANS'. Assuming that tlie Home Rule Bill, which has passed the I Louse of Commons in the two successive sessions of 19 12 and 1913. again passes its third reading in the House of Commons next session, it would eomc under the. operations of the Parliament Act, and receive Royal Assent. This gives special interest, to a forecast of events published by Air .1. G. Swift AlacNeill, K.C.. Af.P.. who is not only a veteran Nationalist M.P., but also Professor of Constitutional Law in the National University of Ireland. “Tho very earliest date on which the Royal Assent can, under these conditions, bo given to the Government of Ireland Bill will be (after its passing its third reading the third time in the House of Commons) two years after May 9, 1912. when it first passed its second reading in that House —that is to say. May 9. 1914 —and after its subsequent, rejection by tho House of Lords, which might he approximately fixed in tho first or second week in Juno, 1914. Tho placing otfrthc statute book of the Irish Government Bill in 1914. may bo regarded as quite as certain as anything can, in human affairs, ho certain. Friends and foes of the Bill alike consider that no obstacle, except, in Mr Redmond’s expressive pharse. a political earthquake, can bar its achievement." writes Professor Swift MacNoill. "Assuming that the Bill will receive the Royal Assent next June, and that the appointed day to be the day fixed in the Bill, subject to alteration by Order in Council, it w-ould come into operation as an Act of Parliament on the second Tuesday in February. 1915. . . . The firs! great step to he taken after the appointed day must be the reconstitution of tho office of Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. Under tho provisions of tlie Irish Government . Bill the office of LordLieutenant of Ireland will cease to be a political appointment, and will assume tlie character of a Governor-General of a dominion or colony under full responsible government. .... The first duty of the Lord-Lieutenant will lie to send for a statesman clearly designated by the Irish people to form a Cabinet, called in tho Bill ‘Tlie Executive Committee-, to aid and advise him In the exercise of liis executive power in relation to Irish Services. The gentleman asked to form a Cabinet will, as is the practice in this country, have full liberty in tlie selection of Ministers, subject to the approval of the Lord-Lieutenant, which it is not likely would in any instance be withheld. Before, however, the formation of an Irish Cabinet, ‘the Departments,’ especially the Irish, Treasury, must be established by tlie Lord-Lieu-tenant —that is to say. by the British Cabinet under whose sanction tlie LordLieutenant and the Chief Secretary would act.” Following these steps would come the selection of the 40 members of the Senate, the framing of regulations for setting in motion the Irish Parliament and Government, and tho arrangements for election. “Upon the first meeting of the Irish Parliament the members returned by constituencies in Ireland to servo in the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and those sitting in that Parliament, shall vacate their seats, and then 42 members shall be returned from Ireland to the House of Commons.”