ULSTER'S POSITION

Southland Times, Issue 17609, 25 March 1914, Page 5

ULSTER'S POSITION

DISCUSSION IN THE COMMONS GENERAL PAGET’S LETTER. EXCITEMENT IN THE HOUSE. Bonar taw’s Statement KING STAYS IN LONDON ...... RESIGNATION OP OFFICERS By Telegraph— Press Assn.— Copyright LONDON, March 23. The House of Commons was crowded when the Home Rule debate resumed. Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George wore cheered. The Opposition raised erics of “Limehotjscl" on the Chancellor of the Exchequer making hip appearance. Mr. Asquith, in reply to Mr Bonar Law. promised l further facilities for the discussion of the Ulster situation after Colonel Seely’s statement. Air Bonar Law thought if. necessary to say that some officers had informed General Paget that they would not serve in certain eventualities. Colonel Seely replied that this arose through a misunderstanding. Those officers had been ordered to rejoin their units. Tho movement of troops was solely to protect the Government supply of arms and ammunition. Mr Bonar Law then asked for further discussion, and to that end moved the adjournment of the House. It was a most amazing instance of the Government paltering with the Commons. There was danger of the Army being destroyed before the ryes of Parliament. The news had come like.a bolt from the blue. He had received proof that other than cavalry regiments had tendered their resignations. Ho then read a letter stating that those officers not fighting against Ulster would be dismissed. "The Government’s moving of the troops," said tlie Leader of tlie Opposition, "is foolish. No new situation has arisen." He also read a letter wherein General Paget stated that active operations were to begin against Ulster, and that he expected the country would be "ablaze by Saturday’.” that he was in elosc communication witli the War Office, and that lie had received his instructions. Tho reading of tlie letter caused great excitement. Continuing Mr Bonar Uaw said that it was difficult for Mr Asquith to convince tlie House (the Opposition Leader declared) that, with or without bis knowledge, some of his colleagues had made a movement of troops as part of a. concerted plan to provoke or intimidate Ulster. Mr Asquith said that in December last the officers commanding in Ireland were informed that they might bo called on to assist the civil power, and that all officers domiciled within the disturbed area might be excused. General Paget has emphatically denied •saying "This is the first step in the operations to conquer Ulster." Tlie general had never received instructions from the War Office to justify siiclt a statement, and it was an undoubted fact that General Gough and others had misinterpreted their instructions. The Airny Council were also satisfied that there was a misunderstanding with the officers. Tlie letter read by Mr Bonar Law was not written by General Paget Vmt was one containing u statement that General Paget was reported to have made to his officers at Curragh. Mr Balfour said that undoubtedly the Government thought Dial the circumstances wore exceptional, and they therefore made exceptional provision to meet them. They then encountered unexpected opposition on the part of officers. The Government had forced a, crisis of infinite danger to tho community and the Army. General Gough had resigned because he would not fight Ulster, and lie had now been reinstated, though lie still would not fight Ulster. It is authoritatively stated that a number of officers in the Belfast coiniiinnd have resigned. Sir R A, (1. D. Sassoon. M.Pi. denies that he lias offered a vesel to Ulster The motion to adjourn was negatived without a division. In the House of Lords Lord Mori'-y was pressed to publish tlie Army Council’s instructions to General Paget, lie promised to make an announcement tomorrow. Speaking at Lineoln. the Ulster leader sahl that while the Notionalist:-, were jeering at (he British flag the men in Ulster were working. He challenged any member of the Asquitli Ministry to point to any single speech in whicli it was put forward at the last genera! election that, if necessary, tho forces of the Crown would be used to coerce tbe people of Ulster. Tbe Nationalist Leader had said that he (Sir Edward Carson) was un rea sonahlo. Let this, thou, he his answer — 1 will tell him Imw far i can go If lie wants a genuine extension of real local government in Ireland I will join him. If he wants the removal of any abuses in the government of Ireland I will help him. If he wants social and economic reform (and he badly needs it in Dublin) I will help him. If lie can point out any injustices in social and religious circles 1 will h'du him. But if Mr Redmond's speech is-the last word from Hi a l si I<> wc are in a lamentable ami critical state of aflai’s. I tun a man of peace, but 1 won”, have peace at any price. The Times says editorially (hat today the Ulster Covenanters star-.! on the alert, ca'mly ready to fulfil their oath of resistance, while for the moment Hie Army is paralysed. Never (at firms the paper) was a delicate issue so stupidly bungled and so mishandled. The Covenant read as follows "That, relying on (he God whom our fathers, in days of stress ami trial, confidently trusted. we hereby reaffirm our determination, as expicssed in our Solemn Coven ai, to stand by one nother in defeating under the wise guidance of Sir E''w.ir,l Cursor., our belo.ed leader, our elier.s icd position in ’he United King nm, and to use all rors which may he found necessary to defeat the present conspiracy to set up a. Homo Rule Parliament in Ireland, and that we will sec to -t that ?S Is never established in Ulster.” The K ig cancel ml his visit to tlie. Grand National, and gave an audience to General Pager General Paget conferred with Colonel Seely prior B> a lengthv CaMrri Co,;.;c>l. Afterwards the Minister of War proceeded to Buckingham Palace. Mr Asquith, in reply to a question, said he was unable at present, to say when the second reading of the Home Buie Bill would Vie taken. ’ No instructions beyond assisting the civil power had bee.n given ‘o iiu; Army in Irolar.d The officers had misinterpreted these, and woi’! now saG-ficd of their mistake. the latest. FURTHER PA R UIA M ENT ARY DIS-. CESSION. THE POSITION OF THE ARMY. ITS USE AGAINST STRIKES. OFFICERS RETURN TO THEIR REGIMENTS. Received March 25. 12.30 a.m. During tho debate in tho House of Commons Mr Ramsay Macdonald said that if General Gough was not prepared to do his duty he ought to be dismissed. The syndicalists had apparently succeeded in inoculating the Tories with their poisonous views. Hundreds of thousands of trade unionists would say that die army officers were prepared to shoot strikers because they did not sympathise with them, but that they would not do their duty in Ulster because of class bias and political prejudice. Lord Morley In the House of Lords repeated the ministerial statement given in the House of Commons, and added that the King had approved of General Gough and other officers being ordered to their regiments. Tho newspapers state that (ho War Office verbally assured General Gough yesterday that the cavalry would bo required only to assist to preserve law and order in Ulster. Ho asked for a written assn ranee, which was granted, and General Gough agreed to resume his duties. He telegraphed to his regiment that, all officers were to be reinstated without loss of prestige.

The Daily Mall adds that General. ,Gough, .te)egraphed to hisoftiAerfl at£ur’ragh' on Sunday after tils first vlstt to the War Office—“Wo have found strong support on this side, and believe wo shall come through . all right if wc sta&d firm.” LONDON PRESS COMMENT. ARMY DICTATES TQ PARLIAMENT. LONDON, March. 3-1. Received March 24, 12,45 a.m. The Dally Chronicle says—“lt Is useless for the Government to tell us that the officers did not strike. We all know that they did. Their.action raises the. question—Are army officers- to dictate to Parliament what Bill shall not pass 0 The evil will grow, with tolerance. Net a few good judges think that if their places could be filled by other officers who would treat the profession more seriously it would bo a blessing in disguise.” The Chronicle’s lobby .correspondent says that, many Liberals dislike even the appearance of a. surrender to military influence. If the Government adopted the iron hand and sent the resigning officers about their business it would be much more agreeable to most supporters. 'The situation in Ireland has been bitdly handled, and Colonel Seely hsa not covered himself with giory. GENERAL GOUGH’S DISMISSAL. THE PREMIER IN REPLY. LONDON. March 24. \ Received 'March 25, 1.10 a.m. Mr Bonar Law, continuing his speech, said that it was impossible for General Gough’s dismissal to have been due to a misconception, and the country had a right to know the terms of his reinstatement. He asked the Premier to say openly why he was reinstated. There was a distinct understanding that lie had not asked for the use of troops to enforce Home Rule and the officers who refused on conscientious grounds should be permitted to resign without forfeiting their pensions. The situation had arisen by the Government attempting to coerce part of the population without the authority of the electors. Mr Asquitli in defending the army's duty said that it must protect military property and render assistance if the civil power became inadequate to deal with a riot. There was some disorder when Mr Asquith was replying to a question vhollier officers domiciled in Ulster might resign, and he was asked if similar regulations applied to strikes. Mr Asquith—Yes; it, is a good rule where military force is called to assist civil force to avoid employing men having domestic tics in the locality. When General Paget received the fVar Office’s instructions, said Mr Asquith, he assembled tlie divisional generals and brigadiers and intimated to them that the movement might cause excitement and orders might bo varied by a consequential supplementary’ movement. General Gough, who was a most distinguished cavalry leader was a man of very great will and deserved his reputation, and some of the officers interpreted General Paget’s observations in the sense of the letter which Mr Bonar Law had read. The officers were now satisfied that there had been a misunderstanding and had returned to their regiments, expressing their full willingness to discharge theii- duties. The Premier concluded by saying that it was not the business the army and navy to discriminate between the relative validity of different parts of law. If Mr Bonar Law’s doctrines wore recognised the whole fabric on which the law was built would disappear. THE PREMIER’S PROTEST. MR BALFOUR’S REPLY. LONDON. March 2 1. Received March 25. 1.30 a.m. Mr Asquith said—lf half a. million men struck for shorter hours and better wages and brought society near starvation would the officers disobey orders because they believed the men’s cause to bo a just one. I protest against the motion that the army and navy must ultimately determine the country’s policy. Mr Balfour said that it was absurd for the Premier to use conciliatory language while Mr Churchill was blowing the call to arms in Yorkshire. While the Premier was out calling for the tiro engines to put out a coullngrat ion lie had sent two colleagues to cut the mains and destroy the water supply. Never before had it been thought necessary when supporting magistrates -or looking after small arms to lay down conditions that persons who had relations dear to the small arms might disappear and later come back without loss of military reputation. The thing was manifestly foolish. General Gough had been reinstated though lie still said that he would not fight against Ulster. There were times in history when the ordinary maxims of Government and society must bo laid aside. There had been such crisis in England’s civl war, and the contest with the American colonies and at the time of the disruptions between north and south. Mr Balfour concluded by saying that crisis were due to circumstances beyond the power of man. but in tho case of Home Rule it is due to the insane folly of the Government's refusal to look facts in the face. THE NAVY AFFECTED. SHOULD OFFICERS RESIGN. (Times and Sydney Sun Services.) LONDON, March 2 1. Received March 24. 5.2,0 p.m. Lord Charles Bores ford, in a i el ter says that so long as officers and men of the navy are under the pennant thc\ must obey orders. Ho believes that many of the best, will resign, involving a stoppage in the pay of pensions., but that when the reaction comes it is certain that the country will restore them to their posit ions. G E R M A N PRESS VIEW. EVILS OF DEMOCRACY. FAULTY VOLUNTEER SYSTEM. BERLIN, March 24. Received March 24, 5.30 p.m. -The newspapers attribute the Irish trouble to the evils of democracy, and emphasise tho dangers of a volunt.u \ military system. IMPERIAL OFFICERS RESIGNING. “COCK AND BULL STORY." (Special to the Times.) CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. An echo of the Ulster trouble seems to have been heard in Now Zealand during the last dav or two. According to a rumour in circulation in the city to-day British officers resident in the dominion have received cablegrams from their Unionist friends in Britain urging them to resign their Imperial commissions as a protest against the use of troops in Ulster Whether or not any response has been tirade to these sugcslions is known only to the men directly concerned, hut it is stated that in two cases, at any rate, resignations of officers in (lie Canterbury district have been forwarded. “A cock and bull story, I expect." said an officer who was questioned by a Star reporter. "Of course some men take their politics pretty seriously, and think that Mr Asquith. Mr Redmond, and the rest are playing the deuce with Ireland, hut an officer would hardly he likely to resign his commission merely because of a few sensational reports and before any real trouble had occurred.” RESIGNATIONS HANDED IN. ONE OFFICER’S REASONING. CHRISTCHURCH, March 24. It is stated on good authority to-night that several Imperial officers connected with tlie Defence Department are handing in their resignations as officers in the British army, on account of tho Ulster trouble. One officer staled to a reporter that he was doing exactly the same as he would if he were at Home, and he could not see any reason for acting differently owing to the fact of his being out here. The resignations have nothing to do with the New Zealand appointments. SETTLING THE PROBLEM A NOVEL PLAN. In an interview In The Daily Mail on October 3, Sir Horace Plunkett intimated that tho time was shortly coming when he would feel impelled to break his long

silence on Irish political questions. That - moment lias arrived. Sir Horace now suggests a novel plan for settling Ulster problem. • Sir Horace Plunkett has enormous authority in Irish matters. Formerly M.P. for South Dublin, where he lives, he was till 1907 Vice-President of the Irish Department of Agriculture, and he founded the Irish Agricultural Oragnlsation Society, which has done so much for the new progress of the country. "I can quite well excuse those who do not know the Ulstermen for thinking they must be "bluffing.”, he writes; “for those who do know them, as I have known them for many years, to say so is criminal. My firm belief is that if the Home Rule Bill is passed in this session, without substantial modifications, there will break out in Ireland either civil Avar or, what would perhaps be oven worse, unpremeditated and uncontrolled sec-, tarian outrages, not improbably leading to retaliation.” To avert Ibis Sir Horace Plunkett proposes that the Home Rule Bill should be accepted by the Ulster Unionist* upon three conditions; 1. A clause should be inserted providing that at the end of a fixed number of years it should be decided by a plebiscite taken in a defined area of Ulster whether that area shall continue subject to the Irish Parliament. 2. Botli sections of Irishmen slrould be invited, preferably in conference with one another, to suggest to the Government any amendments which could be Incorporated in the Bill by consent. IS. The Ulster Volunteers should be given the opportunity of being organised as a territorial force. with (he double object of adding a very valuable body to the troops available for home defence, and of preserving intact for the Ulster Unionists an ultimate safeguard on which, rightly or wrongly, they rely for the preservation of their liberties. Sir Horace Plunkett claims for bis scheme that, it is within the spirit of the Ulstermen's Covenant and avoids any permanent political subjection or any sacrifice of the .heritage of their successors: that it would furnish an opportunity of trying important experiments, both legislative and adminirative. upon the suggestion of the various interests in the country: that it would throw a much needed light on the general question of devolution and federalism; that it would pul the Nationalists on their best behaviour, promote the political education of -all Irishmen, and unite north and south in Hie practical work of establishing an cqujtable and business-like government. “Cannot the brave Irishmen who have thought it their duty to take up arms in defence of their rights show the world that they possess the larger patriotism, tlie higher quality of courage. :.which it will take to lay them down?”