Mr Asquith Busy.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 79, 24 March 1914, Page 5

Mr Asquith Busy.

CATCHING UP THE LBES.

ULSTER CONTINUES CALM.

OPPOSITION POLICY UNMASKED

[By EiiEOTßio Telegraph— Copyright] [USJITJSB I'MB3 ASSOCIATION.) London, March 23. Mr Asquith denies that a warrant was ever intended to be issued against the Ulster leaders, nor was a general inquisition of officers' intentions contemplated, inasmuch as the Governmeifi hope that the contingency of employment of troops" against Ulster will never arise. He hinted at the Ministers' belief that the resignations were due to an honest misunderstanding. Brigadier-General Cough and others had erroneously been given the impression that it was intended to move the troops against Ulster, but thev immediately accepted General Sir A. H. Paget's'assurance that their duties would be confined strictly to police duty in the event of the regiments moving north. The authorities have removed large quantities of arms and ammunition i'rom Omagh to Enniskillen. 1 General Paget has moved twelve hundred troops to various points as a precaution against possible' raids oh stores. Mr Asquith states that the movement of the troops has now been completed. The Premier had' an hour's interview with the King yesterday. FieldMarshal French was present. The alleged mutinous . conduct of the Dorsetshires is officially denied. General Friend, the commander, declares that he is certain that every officer and soldier in the regiment will do his duty to the' Crown and the Government if called upon to maintain order. General Ferguson, addressing the Manchester Regiment at the Curragh, said that though his and the men's sympathies were with, • Ulster., they would loyally obey the King's commands if ordered thither. Detachments of. the Enniskillsn Fusilier and Bedfordshire Regiment and Tyrone and Ulster volunteers attended the Omagh parish church and . sat in adjoining pews, in some cases sharing prayer-books. When leaving, the regulars' and volunteers mutually saluted. • -. : . • The War Office has informed officers domiciled in Ulster, or whose, parents reside- in Ulster, .that they •may temporarily resign their commissions until the trouble is over. Despite ,the'movement of the troops in Ireland, the Stock Exchange took a more hopeful view : to-day, anticipating a pea,cefdl ..settlement. The tone of- the market has improved. - Ulster continues calm. • Government newspapers denounce the resignations as an attempt of the aristocratic, military cast to destroy the Parliament Act. They declare that the time is opportune to revis3 the system ' The Daily ilail states that the 4th Iriniskillings, of whom a large number signed the covenant, have been ordered to England, and adds that Brigadier-General Gough's brother,' Chief of Staff at Aldershot, has resigned. thousand marched in procession at Liverpool on Tuesday in celebration of St. Patrick's Day. Mr T. O'Connor declared thai Home Ride was won. The Daily Post states that three thousand Irish Nationalists at Liyei>; pool have been secretlv trained, and are prepared to join their comrades in Ulster in the event of trouble. • Mr Wason, M.P., in a letter to a newspaper, suggests that if sufficient Commoners of all parties will support the self-exclusion of the counties until the federal system is established, , probably the Ministerial and leades would accept it. © Mr Marcus Samuel offers £IO,OOO towards the fund to relieve the families Of officers resigning from conscientious motives. The offer is conditional upon the Unionist leaders announcing their, intention to restore the commissions. The. Sim Feinn' Convention at Dublin resolved to resist any temporary or permanent parition of Ireland. Alderman Kelly remarked that the Home Rule Bill wasliot worth shedding a drop of blood for. It would d>e no satisfaction to them -to have their northern countrymen shot down by British guns. An attempt was made to burn the Ballyjamesduff Protestant Church in Cavan county. The pulpit ws burnt , and books and surplices thrown into the street.

"THE TIMES" COMMENT.

(Received 8.0 a.m.) London,, March VS

The,Times, in a leader to-day, says: "Ulster covenanters stand on the alert, calmly ready to -pailfi.il their oath of resistance while the Army is for the moment paralysed. Never was a delicate issue so stupidly bungled and mishandled." CABINET, COUNCIL AND COMMONS. (Received 8.40 a.m.) London, March 23. General Paget conferred with Colonel Seely prior to a lengthy meeting of the Cabinet and the Army Council. Colonel Seely then proceeded to Buckingham Palace. Mr Bonar Law, in the Commons, read a letter wherein General Paget stated that active < operations would

begin against Ulster, and it was expected that the country would be in a blaze by Saturday. There was great excitement. Mr Asquith, in reply to a question, said he was unable at present to say when the second reading of the Home Rule Bill would be taken. The military had no instructions beyond assisting civil power, but the officers misinterpreted them in a wider sense. He was now satisfied there had been a mistake.

The movement of troops has ceased

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

(Received 9.35 a.m.) London, March 23'.

The King has cancelled his visit to the Grand National meeting. Ho gave audience to General Paget. The House of Commons was crowded, and Mr Asquith and Mr Lloyd George were cheered. Oppositionists raised cries of "Limehouse."

. Mr Asquith, in reply fo Mr Bonar Law, promised further facilities for discussion of the Ulster situation, if, after Colonel Soely's statement, Mr Bonar Law thought it necessary. Colonel Seely stated that some officers had informed General Paget they, would not serve in certain eventualities. This arose through misunderstanding. These officers had beeu ordered to rejoin the units. Tlr.? •novemeht of troops was solely to protect Government, arms and ammunition.

Mr Bonar Law asked for further discussion, but Mr Asquith moved the adjournment of the House. - '.

Mr Bonar Law said it was the most ihiazirig instance of Government trifiifig 'with the Commons. • There ,vas danger of the Ariny being destroyed before their eyes. It came •>n the Government li'ko a bolt from ch'e 'blue, and ho had received proof thai other than cavalry regiments had tendered their resignations.. He read i letter stating that tho officers not ighting against Ulster would be disuissed. . The- Government's moving if the troops wag foolish. No new situation had arisen. He also read i letter in which General- Paget stated" that active operations were to beTin against Ulster,. and that it was expected the country would be ablaze by Saturday; that he was in closo consultation with the War Office, and had received instructions from there. Mr Bonar Law said it was difficult for Mr Asquith to cbnvince the House that' without his knowledge some ol lis colleagues had made the movenents of the troops as part of a concerted plan to provoke or intimidate ulster. '■.

THOSE ARMY COUNCIL INSTRUCTIONS.

(Received 11.25 a.m.) London, March 23

It is authoritatively stated that a number of officers in the Belfast command have resigned.-

* A motion for the adjournment of the Commons was negatived without division. .

in the Lords Lord Morley was pressed to publish the Army Council's instructions to General Paget, and he promised to make an announcement to-morrow.

GETTING AT THE TRUTH.

A MISSTATEMENT CORRECTED

(Received 11.10 a.m.) London, March 23

Mr Asquith, in the House of Commons, said that in December the officers commanding were informed that they might be called to assist civil power, and that the officers domiciled in the area might be excused. The movement, of troops has now been concluded.

General Paget emphatically denied saying this was the first step in the operations to conquer Ulster. He said he had never received instructions from the War Office to justify such a .statement. It was an undoubted fact that General Gough and others misinterpreted the instructions, and the' Army Council was now satisfied there was a misunderstanding. The officers were also satisfied.

It is now authoritatively stated that Mr Bonar Law's letter was not written by General Paget, but was one containing a statement he was reported to have made to the officers at Curragh. Mr Balfour said undoubtedly the Government thought the circumstances exceptional and had made exceptional provisions. Then they encountered unexpected opposition on the part of the officers. The Government had forced a crisis of infinite danger. to the community and the Army. General Gough had resigned because he would not fight Ulster, and now ha was reinstated, though still h» would not fight Ulster,