ULSTER CRISIS

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144359, 25 March 1914, Page 3

ULSTER CRISIS

t jTHB DEBATE IN THE COMMONS, FULLER REPORTS OFFICERS RETURN TO THEIR DUTIES. BY EUECTBIO TELEOEAPU. —COPYRIGHT. London, March 24. Mr. Bonar Daw read a letter from an officer who was present at tho conference. This said that General Paget spoke the words: “Active operations are about to eommeuce against Lister. I expect the country will bo ablazo by Saturday.” He assured the officers that he had the War Office’s instructions. Mr. Bonar Law continued that it was impossible for General Gough’s dismissal to have been due to misconception, and the country had a right to know the terms of iris reinstatement. He asked the Premier to say openly that he had been reinstated on tho distinct understanding that he would not bo asked to use his troops to enforce Homo Rule. Those officers who refused on conscientious grounds should be permitted to resign without forfeiting their pensions. The situation had arisen that the Government was attempting to coerce a part of tho population without tho authority of the electors. Mr. Asquith commenced by defining the Army’s duty. They must protect military property, and render assistance if civil power wore inadequate to . deal with riot or disorder. When Mr. Asquith, in his reply, said that officers domiciled in Ulster might resign, he was asked if similar regulations applied to strikes. Mr. Asquith: Yos; it is a good rule whole military force is called to assist the civil, to avoid employing men having domestic ties in tho locality. When Lieutenant-General Paget received tho War Office’s instructions ho assembled tho division,".! generals anil brigadiers and intimated to them that tho movement might cause excitement, and orders might he varied by consequential supplementary movements. Brigadier-General Gough, who was a most distinguished cavalry loader, n man of a very groat and well-deserved reputation, and some other officers, interpreted Lieutenant-General Paget’s observations in the sense of tho letter which Mr. Bonar Law had read. Tho officers were not satisfied that there had been a misunderstanding, and had returned expressing their full willingness to discharge their duties. The Premier concluded: “It is not the business of the Army and Navy to discriminate between the relative validity of different parts of tho law. If Mr. Bonar Law’s doctrine were recognised, the whole fabric on which the law is built would disappear.” Continuing, the Premier said; “If half-a-million men struck for shorter hours and better wages, and brought society near to starvation, would officers disobey orders because they believed the men’s cause was just? . I protest against tho notion that the Army and Navy must ultimately determine the country’s policy.” Mr. Balfour said it was absurd for the Premier to use tins conciliatory language while Mr. Churchill was blowing tho call to arms in Yorkshire. While the Premier was calling out tho fir© engines to nut out the conflagration, ho sent his two colleagues to cut the mains and destroy the water supply. It had never before been thought necessary, when supporting the magistrate or looking after small arras to lay down conditions that persons who had relations in tho dear small arms might disappear, and later come back without loss'of military reputation. Tho thing was manifestly foolish. Briga-dier-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 bo laid aside. There had been such a crisis in our civil war, the contest with the American colonies, and at tho time of tho disruptions between North and South. ' , Mr. Balfour, continuing, said that such crises had been due to circumstances beyond the power of man. In this case t ie crisis was due to the insane folly of tho Government’s refusal to look the facts in tho face. Mr. Ramsay Macdonald said; “If Brigadier-General Gough was unprepared to do his duty ho ought to bo dismissed. The syndicalists have, apparently, succeeded in inoculating tho Tories with their poisonous views. Hundreds of thousands of trade unionists will say ■ that Army officers are proSared to shoot strikers because they o not sympathise with them, but will not do their duty in Ulster because of class bias and political prejudices.” Lord Morloy, in the House of Lords, repeated the' Ministerial statement given in the House of Commons, and added that tho King had approved of Brigadier-General Gough and other officers being ordered to rejoin. Newspapers state that tho War Office verbally assured General Gough yesterday that tho cavalry would be required only to assist to preserve law and order in Ulster. Ho asked for a written assurance, which was granted, and General Gough agreed to resume. He telegraphed to bis regiment that all officers would be reinstated without loss of prestige. The Daily Mail adds that General Gough telegraphed to his officers at The Curragh on Sunday, after his first visit to the War Office: “We found strong support on this side, and believe wo shall come through all right if we stand firm.” Lord Charles Beresford, in a letter, says that so long as officers and men are under the pennant they must obey orders. He believes that many of tho best will resign, involving a stoppage 1 of pay and pension. When tho reaction comes he is certain that the country will restore them to their positions. The Chronicle, in a leader, says; “It is useless for the Government to toll us that the officers did not strike. We all know they did. The action raised the question, Are the Army officers to dictate to Parliament what Bill shall not pass? The evil will grow with tolerance, and not a few good judges think that if their places could bo filled with other officers who would treat their profession more seriously, it would bo a blessing in disguise.” The Chronicle’s lobby correspondent states that many Liberals disliked even an appearance of surrender to military influences, and if the Government adopted an iron hand and sent the resigning officers about their business it would be much more agreeable to most of their supporters. The situation in Ireland, he adds, has been badly handled, and Colonel Seely had not covered himself with glory. BERLIN, March 23. Newspapers attribute tho Irish trou-

ble to the evils of democracy, emphasising the dangers of a voluntary military system. te. O’CONNOR’S VIEWS, TIMES AND SYDNEY SDN SERVICES. (Received March 25, 8.0 a.m.) LONDON. March 2-1. Mr. T. P. O’Connor, in a special to Reynolds’ newspaper, prophesies that there will be no developments in Ireland until the Bill reaches the Lords, where some Carsonito proposals will bo embodied. The Commons will reject them and send them back to the Lords, where they will be accepted, and the Home Rule struggle will begin. CANADIAN VOLUNTEERS. OTTAWA, March 24. The first contingent of Canadian volunteers for Ulster will leave in May. Several Canadian and South African papers urge a referendum. FEDERAL SCHEME APPROVED. VARIED PRESS COMMENTS. (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 in the Westminster Gazette, say that the Goverurnont’s Ulster olfer, though statesmanlike and tho best under the circumstances, suffers from tho admitted defect of the want of finality. The writers warmly advocate the suggestion of tho Westminster Gazelle, that a statutory commission should bo. appointed to recast tho Government on a federal basis, as tho best means of securing a definite settlement of the whole constitutional question. This could be dealt with during Ulster s six year period of exemption. Tho Unionist papers declare that Lieutenant-General Paget is a scapegoat, and hint at the possibility of !:is resignation. They acclaim BrigadierGeneral Gough as the mn of the hour. Tho band of officers have raved the con itry from disaster. The Liberal papers declare that the Tory attempt to split the army has failed. They declare that tho limit of patience has beer, reached. Mr. Cowan asked tho Premier to consider tho exclusion of Ulster. pending a general scheme of devolution. Mr. .Asquith replied that ho was anxious to give tho fullest consideration to any proposal likely to afford common grounds of agreement. LOBBY DISCUSSIONS. COERCION NOW IMPOSSIBLE. (Received March. 25, 0.20 a.m.) LONDON. March 24. Generals Paget and Gough have returned to Ireland. The opinion generally expressed in the lobby afuc Mr. Asquilll's speech is that it, is now impossible for tho Government to rail on the Arruv to coerce Ulster. Many Liberals and Nationalists are disappointed that the Govormnont did net accept the resignations. Moderate Liberals are debuting Mr. Cathcar- Wastin'* suggestion that if sufficient morr-K-rt. of Parliament of all parties would support the self-exclusion of the euunti s until the federal system was established, probably the Ministerial and Unionist loaders would accept it. The Daily Nows says tho public want to know the conditions of BrigadierGeneral Gough's return. Are the conditions unqualified .or obedience? If tho Army is a Tory Institution the Liberals will break it as they broke the House of Lords. GENERAL GOUGH’S RESIGNATION. (Received March 25, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, March 24. Their Majesties have gone to Cheshire to visit the industries there. Colonel Seely has promised to publish all material documents relating to Brigadier-General Gough’s resignation and reinstatement. Mr. Asquith added that the documents would include tho written instructions to Lieutenant-General Paget. The whole question could be di'cusred ou the second reading of tho Consolidated Fund Bill to-morrow. MESSAGE FROM MR. REDMOND. TO AUSTRALIAN - SYMPATHISERS. (Received March 25, 12.40 p.ra.) LONDON. March 24. Wo are requested to send tho following as Mr. Redmond’s statement to Australian sympathisers. Tho Ulster Orange plot has now boon completely revealed. Sir Edward Carson and his army have not, and never had, tho slightest intention of fighting. As a fighting force against regulars they could not Hold out for a week. Tho plan was to put up the appearance of a fight and then by society influences seduco army officers, and thus intimidate the Government and defeat tho people’s will. Tho action of commanders in some crack cavalry regiments officered by aristocrats lias now fully disclosed tho plan of campaign and raised an issue wider oven than Home Rule—whether a democratic "overnment is to bo browbeaten and dictated to by the drawing-rooms in London and a section of officers who are aristocrats and violent Tory partisans. Tho cause of Irish freedom has in this fight become tho cause of popular freedom, order and liberty throughout tho world. It is impossible to douot the result of such a fight. The second reading of the Homo Rule Bill will bo taken on Monday, tuid the BUI proceeded with until it finds a place on tho statute book. AUSTRALIAN ORANGEMEN. • (Received March 25, 9.45 a.m.) SYDNEY, March 25. A meeting of the Loyal Orange Institution decided to form a contingent of sympathisers with Ulster to proceed to Ireland if necessary to help defend Ulster. A large number of offers of service have been received. The executive has also started a fund to supplement Sir Marcus Samuel’s donation for assisting resigning officers and expressed the hope that the King, as supremo head of Protestant Britain, will exercise his right of veto and make a general election imperative before the Bill receives his assent. MR PRESS ASSOCIATION. CHRISTCHURCH, March 24, It is stated on good authority tonight that several Imperial officers connected with the New Zealand Defence Department are handing in their resignations as officers in the British Army, on account of the Ulster trouble. One officer stated to a reporter that he was doing exactly the same ns he would if ho wore at Home, and ho could not see any reason for acting differently owing to the fact of his being out hero. Tho resignations have nothing to do with their New Zealand appointments.