HOME RULE.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144358, 24 March 1914, Page 3

HOME RULE.

A MORE HOPEFUL FEELING. CAUSE OF RESIGNATIONS. ST ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH. —COPYRIGHT. LONDON, March 23. Mr. Asquith denies that a warrant was ever intended to be issued against tho Ulster leaders, nor was a geueiai inquisition of officers’ intentions contemnlatcd, inasmuch «s the Government hope that tho contingency ot employment of troops against Ulster will never arise. Ho hinted at the Ministers belief that the resignations were .duo to an honest misunderstanding. BrigadierGeneral Gough and others had erroneously been given tho impression that it was intended to move tho troops against Ulster, but they immediately accepted General Sir A. H. Paget’s assurance that their duties would ho co. Mined strictly to police duty in the o\out ot the regiments moving north. The authorities have removed largo quantities of arms and ammunition from Omagh to Inniskillen. General Paget has moved twelve huudred troops to various points as a procaution against possible raids on stores. Mr. Asquith states that the movement of the troops lias now boon completed. , , . , The Premier had an hour s interview with the King yesterday. Field-Mar-shal French was present. Tho alleged mutinous conduct ot the Dorselshiros is officially denied. General Friend, the commander, declares that ho is certain that every officer and soldier in tho regiment will do bis duty to the Crown and the Government if called upon to maintain orcier. General Fcrgusson, addressing the Manchester Regiment at Tho Curragh, said that though his and the men s sympathies were with Lister, they would loyally obey the King’s commands if ordered thither. . . Detachments of the Inniskillou fusilier and Bedfordshire Regiment and Tvrone and Ulster volunteers attended the Omagh parish church and sat in adjoining pews, in some cases sharing nrayer-books. Mhcn leaving, the regulars and volunteers mutually saluted. Despite the movement of rho troops in Ireland, the Stock Excuange took a more hopeful view to-day, anticipating a peaceful settlement. The tone ot the market has improved. Ulster continues calm. Government newspapers denounce tho resignations as an attempt of the aristocratic military caste to destroy the Parliament Act. They declare that the time is opportune to revise tho system of recruiting officers. The Daily MaiT states that tho 4th Inniskiliers, of whom a largo number signed the covenant, have been ordered to England, au<i adds that BrigadierGeneral Gough’s brother, Chief of Stair at Aldershot, has resigned. The War Office has informed officers domiciled in Ulster, or whoso parents reside in Ulster, that they may temporarily resign their commissions until the trouble is over. Seventy-five thousand marched in procession at Liverpool yesterday in celebration of St. Patrick’s Hay. Mr. I. O’Connor declared that Homo Rule had won Liverpool. The Hailv Post states that three thousand Irish Nationalists at Liverpool have been secretly trained, and arc propared to join their comrades in Ulster in the event of trouble. Mr. Woson, M.P., In a letter to a newspaper, suggests that if sufficient members of Parliament of aU parties wil support tho self-exclusion of the counties until the federal system is established, probably the Ministerial and Unionist leaders would accept it Sir Marcus Samuel offers £10,003 towards tile fund to relieve tho families of officers resigning from conscientious motives. Tho offer is conditional upon tho Unionist leaders announcing their intention to restore the officers’ commissions. . • The Sinn Feinn Convention at Dublin resolved to resist any temporary or permanent partition of Ireland. Alderman Kelly remarked that the Home Rule Bill was not worth shedding a drop of blood for. It would be no satisfaction to them to have their northern countrymen shot down by British e ’ An attempt was made to burn the Baltvjainesclutf Protestant Church m Caron County. The pulpit was burnt, and books and surplices thrown into tho street. DELICATE ISSUE MISHANDLED. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received March 24, 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 23. The Times, in a leader, says; “Today the' Ulster Covenanters stand on the alert calmly ready to fulfil their oath of resistance, while the Army for the moment is paralysed. Never was so delicate an issue, so stupidly bungled and mishandled.” STATEMENT BY MR, ASQUITH. (Received March 24 , 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, Marqji 23. Lieutenant-General Sir A. H. Paget conferred with Colonel Seely prior to a ieirethy Cabinet council. Colonel Seely then proceeded to Buckingham Palace. Mr. Bonar Law read a letter in which General Paget stated that active operations would begin against Vinter ana it was expected tho. country would bo in a blazo bv Saturday. There was great excitement in the House of Commons when Mr. Asquith, in reply to a question, said he was unable at present to sav when the second reading of the Home Rule Bill would bo taken. He had given no > instructions to the army beyond that it should assist the civil power. Tho officers had misinterpreted the order and taken it in a wider sense. They were now satisfied that they had made a mistake. The movement of troops had ceased. DISCUSSION IN THE HOUSE. THE GOVERNMENT EVASIVE. (Received March 24, 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, March 23. The King has cancelled his visit to the Grand "National meeting. He gave audience to LieutenantGeneral Pager. Tho House of Commons was crowded. Messrs. Asquith and Lloyd George wore cheered. The Oppositionists raised cries of “Linichouse.” Mr. Asquith, in reply to Mr. Bonar Law, promised further facilities for the discussion of the Ulster situation if after Colonel Seely’s statement Mr. Bonar Law thought it necessary. Colonel Seely stated that some officers had informed Lieutenant-General Paget that they would not servo in certain eventualities. This arose through a misunderstanding. These

officers had been ordered to rejoin their units. The movement of troops was solely to protect the Government arms and ammunition. Mr. Bonar Law asked for further discussion, but Mr. Asquith moved the adjournment of tho House. Mr. Bonar Law said it was a most amazing instance of the Government paltering with tho House of Commons. The danger of tho Army being destroyed was before their eyes. It had come on the Government like a bolt from the blue. He had received proof that other officers than those in tho cavalry regiments had tendered their resignations. He read a letter stating that the officers not fighting against Ulster would be dismissed. The Government movr.ig troops was foolish and had led to the now situation which had arisen. He also read a letter in which LieutenantGeneral Paget stated that active operations were to begin agairst Ulster, that he expected the country would ho ablaze by Saturday, that be was in close consultation with flic War Office and had received instructions thence. Sir, Bonar Law said it was difficult for Mr. Asquith to ronvinro the House that without his knowledge some of bis colleagues had made movements of tho troops ns part of a concerted p'ap. to provoke or intimidate I'lst.cr. NO KF-ARER SOLUTION. A SECOND-HAND LETTER. (Received March it, 11.10 n.m.) .dr. Asquith saidiiia'i in Di'•ember the oifirers-cmiumin'tliig were ii iarmed iliat they might he called to asdst ihe civil power and that oluccr.s domicil'd in tho area might be cxcuucil. i.kmt.Ucnerul Puget omphalicjlfy denied allying, "This is the 111--' i step ill nncr'.itions to conquer V ! i-t. ‘ (:>.)),. r ,ii Paget never received i;v; metirci;- vein the. War Office to justify s-.n u a si.nemont. U was an uudmiU-. d tact. Unit Brigadier-General Gough and others misinterpreted the ins:ructions, and ibo Army Council was now sat:.-,led (hat it was u misunderstanding, "i he Mlicors also wore sar Plied. Tho letter read hr Mr. Bonar Law was not written by Limit ii.iitl-Gcnr-ral Paget, mu was one e-mi unie;: :!ic statement he was reported In have made to the officers at The f'e.rregii. Mr. Balfour said umlonlitedly the Government thought the cireninsinneos exceptional. and made oxcentiup?.! provisions ami then eucountered nnexprotcd opposition on He part of offices. The Government had forr-d a crisis of infinite dangi i to the community and army. Brigadier-General Gough had resigned because he would not tight I"), slor, and had row been reinstated, though ho still would not fight Ulster. It is authoritatively stat'd that a number of officers in the ’Belfast command have resigned. Tho motion for adjournment in tho House of Commons was negatived without a division In the House of Lords, Lord Morley was pressed to publish the Annv Council’s instructions to Lieutenant-General Paget. He promised an announcement to-morrow.