THE ULSTER CRISIS,

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13456, 30 April 1914, Page 5

THE ULSTER CRISIS,

*CABLE NEWS.'"

[Press Association —Copyright.]

UNIONIST DEMAND FOR INQUIRY.

MR. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN'S

SPEECH

UPROAR IN THE HOUSE/

MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL IN

REPLY

London, April 28. . In the House of Commons, Mi\ Austen Chamberlain, in moving for a judicial inquiry into the- Curragh Camp incident, reviewed the Ulster situation. He said that after Mr. Asquith's appeal for peace on the 9th March, to which Sir Edward Carson replied that he would submit a settlement to the Ulsterraen if Ulster was excluded 'from the Home Rule Bill, the Government recognised that as an advance; but, nevertheless, Mr Winston Churchill, on the I4th March, delivered a threatening, .provocative speech, concluding with the words, "Let us put. these grave matters to the proof." Mr. Asquith approved of this, and the Curragh Camp incident followed. Mr. Chamberlain, continuing, said Colonel Seely was the tool of more astute and unscrupulous men. -The Government showed a "'lamentable want of candour and frankness, and were guilty of material misstatements in order to conceal their plans. Mr. Asquith's letter to "The Times" of 23rd March suppressed the" more important part of the movements, and the truth^ had been wrung from him bit by bit. The White Pjaper professed to give the full facts. Later, fifty-five letters were published containing some facts of prime importance.

Mr. Winston Churchill, First Lord of the Admiralty, described the motion as audacious and impudent. This aroused an uproar. He referred to Sir Edward Carson's share in the gun running, whereupon disorderly taunts were exchanged across the House. Sir Edward Carson shouted, "You behave like cads!"

The Speaker did not call on him to withdraw, as Sir Edward Carson had been taunted by offensive expressions.

Mr. Churchill, continuing, said it was a cool request on the part of those organising a force to make war to ask for information, of the movements of British troops. If General Sir Arthur Paget asked for reinforcements he would have them, and if the rebels fired on troops he (Mr. Churchill) would take all steps in his power to secure their condign punishment; but there would be no civil war unless the Opposition made it. He appealed to Sir Edward Carson for peace, as any day an event might happen to condemn all to a continuance of this struggle on the present hateful lines. If Sir Edward Carson accepted,the proposed safeguards, he promised to use his influence to make Ireland an integral unit of the federal system if it would transform the political situation.

A number of 'fishing boats landed on the Donegal coast with a cargo of American arms from a steamer, ana distributed them among Nationalists.