IN THE BALANCE.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 41, 25 March 1914, Page 7

IN THE BALANCE.

THE FATE OF ULSTER.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

WHY THE OFFICERS RESIGNED.

ARMY'S DUTY DEFINED. Generally speaking, the tone of to-day's cable news indicates that the outlook is more hopeful, and this is reflected by the fact that the Stock Exchange is buoyant, in contrast to the depression announced a few days ago. Increased support is being accorded to the suggestion for "a settlement of the problem on the federal system. Colonel Seely has promised to publish all the documents relating to the resignation and subsequent reinstatement of Brigadier-General Gough, also the instructions to General Sir Arthur Paget. Mr Asquith has stated that an opportunity for full discussion will' be afforded to-morrow.

Promises of assistance by means of men and money have been forwarded to Ulster from Canada and Australia.

Mr T. P. O'Connor states his opinion that there win be no further developments in Ulster in the meantime, pending the consideration of the Bill in the House of Lords.

By, ' Cable.—Press Association.- — Copyright.

LONDON, March 24.

In the House o£ Commons Mr Bonar Law read a letter from an officer present at the conference, who said that Sir Arthur Paget>spoke of active.operations about to commence •■*•■ against Ulster and that he expected the country to be ablaze by Saturday. He assured the officers that he had the instructions of the War Office.; Mr Bonar ""Law continued that it was impossible for BrigadiertGeneral Gough's dismissal to have been due to a misconception. The country had a right to know the terms of reinstatement. He asked the Premier to say openly that he had been reinstated on the distinct understanding that he would not be asked to use his troops to enforce Home Rule. The officers who refused on conscientious grounds should be permitted to resign without forfeiting their pensions. A situation had arisen in which the Government was attempting to coerce part of the population without the authority of the electors.

PREMIER IN REPL*f.

DUTY OF THE FORCES.Mr Asquith commenced by defining the Army's duty. It must, he said, protect military property and. render assistance, if the civil power were inadequate to deal withriot and disorder. In the course of his reply, Mr Asquith said that 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 a military foree is called to assist the civil power to avoid employing men having domestic ties in the locality. He continued that when Sir Arthur Paget received the War Office instructions he assembled the divisional generals' and brigadiers and informed them that the movement might cause excitement and orders might be variedly consequential supplementary movements. BrigadierGeneral Gough, who is a most distinguished cavalry leader and a man of very great and well deserved reputation, and some officers interpreted Sir Arthur Paget's observations in the sense of the letter which Mr Bonar Law had read. The officers now were satisfied that there had been a misunderstanding and : had returned expressing full willingness to discharge their duties. The Premier concluded:—

It is not the business of the Army or Navy to discriminate between the relative validity of different parts of the law. If Mr Bonar Law's doctrine should be recognised the whole fabric on which the law is built would disappear. If 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 case was just? I protest against the notion that the Army and Navy must ultimately determine the _ country' s policy. "MANIFESTLY FOOLISH." MR BALFOUR'S CRITICISM. • Mr Balfour said it was absurd for the Premier to use conciliatory language while Mr Churchill was blowing a call to arms in Yorkshire. While the Premier was calling out the fire engines to put out a conflagration he sent two of his colleagues to cut the mains and destroy the water supply. Never before had it been thought necessary when supporting a magistrate or looking after small arms to lay down conditions that persons who had relations might disappear aud later come back without loss to their military reputation. The thing manifestly was foolish. General Gough had been reinstated, though he still said he would not fight Ulster. There were times in history when the ordinary maxims of government and society must be laid aside. There had been such a crisis in their civil wars, the contest with the American colonies and the time of disruptions in north and south. Su<?h - a crisis was due i' to Circumstances beyond the power of man. In" this'ease it

was due to the insane folly of the Government 's refusal to look facts in the iace. ~..;.;,..-,.

A LABOUR VIEW.

OFFICERS SHOULD BE DISMISSED.

Mr Ramsay Mac Donald said that if Brigadier-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 army officers were prepared to shoot strikers because they did not sympathise with them, but did not do their duty in Ulster because of class bias and political prejudices.

IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. LORD MORLEY'S STATEMENT. Lord Morley in the House of Lords repeated the Ministerial statement given in the House of Commons. He added that the King approved of Brigadier-General Gough and officers being ordered to rejoin.

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY. OFFICERS AND RESIGNATION. The newspapers state that the. War Office verbally assured Brigadier-Gene-ral Gough yesterday that the cavalry were required only to assist to preserve law and order in Ulster. He asked for a written assurance, which was granted. General Gough agreed to resume and telegraphed to the regiment that all officers were to be reinstated without loss of prestige. The "Daily Mail" adda that General Gough telegraphed to the , officers at Curragh on Sunday:—" After the first visit to the War Office we found strong support on this side. I believe we shall come through all right if we stand firm." .

The "Chronicle" says:—"lt is useless for the Government to tell us the officers did not strike. "We all know they did. The action raises the question: Are Army officers to dictate to Parliament what Bill it shall not pass? The evil will grow with tolerance. Not a few good judges think that if their places could be filled by other officers who treat their profession more seriously it would be a blessing in disguise.?' The '' Chronicle's' ? lobby correspondent states that many Liberals disliked even the appearance of surrender to military influences. If the Government had adopted the iron hand and sent the resigning officers about their business it would have been much more agreeable to most supporters. The situation in Ireland has been badly handled. Colonel Seely has not covered. himself with glory.

"THEY MUST OBEY."

AN ADMIRAL'S OPINION,

"Tbnes" and "Sydney Sun" Services.

Lord Charles Beresford, in a letter, states- that so long as officers and men are under the pennant, they must obey orders. He-believes that many of the best men will resign, involving the stoppage of their pay, and loss of their pension. When the reaction comes- it is certain that the country will restore them to their'positions. EVILS OF DEMOCEACY. CRITICISM FROM GERMANY. BERLIN, March 24. ' The • newspapers attribute the Irish trouble to the evils of democracy, emphasising -the dangers of the voluntary jnilitary system.

HELP FROM CANADA.

VOLUNTEERS FOR ULSTER.

OTTAWA, March 24,

The first contingent of Canadian volunteers for Ulster will leave in May. Several Canadian and-South African papers urge, for a referendum on the Homfe Rule question. ; ; SUGGESTION FOR SETTLEMENT. THE FEDERAL SYSTEM. (Received March 25, 8.45 a.m.) '.'. LONDON,. March 24. The idea of a federal or devolution settlement finds increasing support in several newspapers. Eight Liberals, writing to the "Westminster Gazette," say that the Government's Ulster offer, though statesmanlike, and the best under the circumstances, suffers from the admitted defect of want of finality. The writers warmly advocate the "Westminster Gazette's "'recent suggestion as the best means of securing a definite settlement. ■ The whole constitutional question could be dealt with during Ulster's six year period of exemption.

"THE MAN OF THE HOUR."

TO SPLIT THE ARMY.

Unionist papers deelare that Sir Arthur Paget is a scapegoat, and hint at the possibility of his resignation. They acelaim Brigadier - General Gough as the man of the hour, who, with his band of officers, saved the country • from disaster. The Liberal papers declare that the Tory attempt to split the army has

failed. They declare that the limit of patience has been reached.

IS THE END IN SIGHT? ME T. P. O 'CONNOR OPTIMISTIC. "Times" and "Sydney Sun" Services. (Received March 25, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 24. Mr T. P. 0 'Connor, M.P., in a special article in "Reynold's Newspaper," prophesies that there will be no developments in Ireland until the Bill reaches the House of Lords, where some "Carsonite" proposals will be embodied in it. The House of Commons

will then reject them and send the Bill Back to the House of Lords, where it will be accepted a?d put an end to the Home Rule struggle.

EXCLUDING ULSTER. PREMIER ANXIOUS FOR SETTLEMENT. Mr W. H; Cowan, Liberal member for Aberdeenshire, asked the Premier if he had considered the exclusion of Ulster pending a general scheme of devolution. Mr Asquith replied that he was anxious to give the fullest consideration to any proposal likely to affor 3 common grounds for agreement. LIBERALS DISAPPOINTED. A POSSIBLE WAY OUT. The opinion j generally expressed in the lobby after Mr Asquith's speech was that it will now be impossible for the Government to call on the army to coerce Ulster. Many Liberals and Nationalises are disappointed that the Governmcntyiid not accept the officers' resignations. Moderate Liberals 1 are debating Mr Cat-heart WasOn's suggestion in a, letter to the newspapers to the effect that' if a sufficient number of members of the House of Commons of all parties support the self-exclusion of counties until a federal system has been established, probably Ministerialists and Unionist leaders will accept the proposal.

"A TOBY INSTITUTION."

LIBERALS AND THE ARMY,

Sir : Arthur Paget and BrigadierGeneral Gough have returned to Ireland. *

The "Daily News" says: "The public want to know the conditions under j which . Brigadier-General , Gough .returned to Ireland. Are the conditions" unqualified, or is his obedience optional? If the army is a Tory institution, the Liberals will break it as they broke the House of Lords.

OFTER FROM AUSTRALIA.

ORANGEMEN PROMISE, SUPPORT,

SYDNEY, March 25.

At a;meetings,of the Loyal Orange Institution, it was decided. to form a contingent of sympathisers ' with Ulster, to proceed to' Ireland, if necessary, and help, to defend Ulster. A large number of offers of services have been received. The' executive has also started a a fund to supplement Sir Marcus Samuel's donation of £IO,OOO for the assistance of the families of the resigning officers. The meeting expressed. the hope that the King, as the supreme head of Protestant would exercise his right of veto, and make a general election imperative, before the Bill receives his assent. MORE HOPEFUL OUTLOOK. STOCK EXCHANGE BUOYANT. (Received March 25, 11.5,0 a.m.) LONDON, March 24 The Stock Exchange is buoyant, and there is an all-round advance on account of the more hopeful outlook in Ulster. ~...-„• Consols touched 76 and closed at 75|. DOCUMENTS TO BE PUBLISHED. FULL DISCUSSION PROMISED. (Received March 25, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, March 24. Colonel Seely promised to publish all the material documents relating to Brigadier-General Gough's resignation and reinstatement.

Mr Asquith r added that the documents will include the written instructionW tq Sir 'Arthur Paget and the whole question, could be discussed on

the second reading of the Consolidated + Fund Bill to-morrow. -_"* "THE PLOT BEVEAEE©. " : % MR REDMOND'S MESSAGE. , r 1 * H' • - • • • *; ■ £ The Press Association has bees «!-"" quested to send the following- as- Mjf "• i|*| Eedmond 's statement to Australian '5? sympathisers: — - -'. ;| "The Ulster Orange plot has now .-4 been completely revealed. Sir Edward '■s Carson and his army have not, and -"J never had, the slightest intention of -■* fighting, and as a fighting force v against the regulars they could not -* hold out for a week. The plan was J. to put up an appearance of fight and .;fj then, by society influences, to seduce „f| the army officers and thus intimidate '^J the Government and "defeat the :<4 peoples' will. The action of the eoinmanders in some of the crack eav- , | airy regiments officered by aristo- • < crats has noW fully disclosed the plan of campaign and raised the issue •j* to a wider one than Home Rule; one as to whether the democratic \ Government is to be browbeaten_«nd 4| dictated to by drawing rooms in Lbn- /| don, and a section of officers who are V*f .-■'.....•.-, . >. /^ aristocrats and violent Tory part* - saris. The cause df Irish freedom v? has, in this fight, become" the cause of. popular freedom, order, an<} \ J> J liberty throughout the world/ and : *| it is impossible to doubt the result Jg of such a fight. The second reading '--% will be taken on Monday, and the ' Jjj Bill Will be proceeded with until it J finds a place on the Statute Book." -."J