HOME RULE

Southland Times, Issue 17619, 6 April 1914, Page 5

HOME RULE

MR ASQUITH LEAVES FOR FIFE. LIBERAL DEMONSTRATIONS. By Telegraph. — Press Assn.— Copyright. LONDON, April 3. The King’s Cross station was crowded to farewell Mr Asquith on his departure for Fife. . The Liberal Federation arranged the demonstration. Mr Churchill, Mr McKenna, 'Mr John Burns, and many members of the House of Commons were present. The crowd cheered Mr Asquith and sang “He’s a Jolly Good Fellow,” and “Rule Britannia,” Ladles, except Ministers’ wives, were not admitted owing to the fear of suffragette distur-* bances. The demonstration was renewed at Grantham, York, and Newcastle. Mr Asquith declared that ho never felt in bettor heart, A suffragette attempted to board the train but foil to the platform unconscious. • AUSTRALIA AND ULSTER. AN INDIGNANT DENIAL. SYDNEY', April 4.' The Grand Council of the Australian Protestant Defence Association indignantly denies the truthfulness of the statement; cabled to England by Mr Holman regarding Australia’s opinion on Ulster. The local Ulster Association lias cabled to the London Times and also to Sir* E.‘ Carson slating that Mr Holman’fe message, is misleading’, and has been questioned in Parliament. SHIPMENT OF RIFLES. COPENHAGEN. April 3. The Fanny, which left with a load of rifles supposed to ho for Ulster, has only sufficient coal for a fortnight, which precludes a vessel of her size reaching South America, her alleged destination. INSTRUMENT OF THE CROYVN. POSITION OF THE ARMY'. LONDON. April 4. ! Received April n, 5.5 p.m. Lord Robert Cecil in the House of Commons, in reply to Mr Ash well, said that the army was not the instrument of the Government but of tile Crown. Soldiers and civilians were equal before the law as regards obedience of orders, taut they must consider whether these arc lawful or not. BIVITISII COVENANTERS. TIME TO RAISE A STORM. LONDON, April 4. Mr Asquith is Sir James Low’s guest at Kilmaron Castle. Mr Mastcrman is in bed suffering from a chill. Mr Long presided at a meeting in London to establish a league of British covenanters. ’Earl Roberts 'was elected president, and on rising to thank the meeting was cheered for several minutes. Sir E. Carson received an ovation when describing Ulster volunteers as being very largely Trade Unionists. Lord Milner declared that the time was short, but there was still time to raise a storm of protest, and compel an appeal to the country. MESSAGE TO AUSTRALIA. FROM SIR E. CARSON. LONDON, April -I. Sir E. Carson, in a special message to Australia, states that it is difficult to conceive a more deliberate misrepresentation of facts than that contained in Mr Redmond’s message, published In Australia on March 25. The Nationalists’ disgraceful attack on the army was quite consistent witli the record of men who have never lost an opportunity of insulting British soldiers and the British Pag. and among whom are sill men who fought beside England's enemies in South Africa. Speaking on the Government's behalf on Monday (continues the message», Lord Merely had said that there was not a single rase of disobedience to orders by any officer or man in connection with the recent events, and the conduct of Hie troops had been exemplary. Sir E. Carson says that the Government on Us own iptiative gave the officers at Cnrragli the alternatives of fighting against Ulster loyalists or resigning their commissions and being dismissed. The officers were free to choose, and they chose the latter conrso. although they thereby forfeited their pensions and ruined their careers, which in many cases involved a total loss of livelihood. “’Such self-saerilice,” continues Sir F. Carson, "is a lest of the sincerity of these seventy officers, who preferred to sacrifice themselves rather than lead troops against loyal subJoels of the King, and who rally under the Fnion Jack. Let it he clearly understood Unit the army was dragged into the present struggle only because the Government did not dare to face the people's opinion at a new general election or a referendum before forcing their infamous proposals through Parliament.” HYDE BARK DEMONSTRATION. I N lON I STS' BUG RALLY'. LONDON, April 5. Received April 6, 12.25 a.m. There was a remarkable Unionist demonstration in Hyde Park despite the rain. Twenty-two processions, representing seventy-six London constituencies. with bands and flags marched In Hyde Bark. The speakers occupied fourteen platforms, and included Messrs Balfour, Bonnr Law, Sir F. Carson, Lord Milner. Mr Austen Chamberlain, Lord Solhonrne. and Mr F. F. Smith. Resolutions were carried protesting against the army being used to shoot down Flster volunteers and demanding a general election. The meetings concluded by singing (lie hymn. "O. God our help in ages past," and the National anthem. There were some labourite interruptions by singing “The Red Flag," and tiie suffragettes hud a rival procession and meeting resulting in disturbances, during which Mrs Drummond and others were arrested. YIR ASQFITH'S SBFECf-T. Tll F DUTY OF THE ARMY. A STRAIGHT-OUT POLICY. LONDON. April 5. Received April fi. 12.10 a.m. Mr Asquith at Ladybank ridiculed 111' legend that the Government had selected the moment of making a proposal to settle Home Rule to engineer a plol to provoke Ulster. There had been a genuine misunderstanding and honest mistakes regarding the army, hat he hud good reason to know the zeal and devojtion lo duty pervading (he military and I naval forces, “i am certain that they can he counted on, from the highest to the lowest, without exception, lo undertake the duties which they may be required to discharge.” said Mr Asquith, "and I pray that the army is not to become a political instrument. It has no place and no voice in framing our policy or moulding the law. The true doctrine of army administration was laid down by the Elder Pill, 176 years ago. and my duty is to see that the army is tit in the ever-shifting conditions for its primary duty. -The army will have nothing of politics from me and in return I shall expert nothing of politics from the army. The responsibility of preserving domestic peace lays with the magistrates a net the police and the .army's aid could not ! and ought not to he invoked, except in a case of emergency, which happily is I rare. When such occasions arise it is | the duty of a soldier lo comply with the j demand of the civil power. The pie- j sent Tory doctrine strikes at the very i roof, nol only of army discipline, hut of I a democratic Government. ! ' i