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A DIFFICULT SITUATION

DOCUMENTS TO BE TABLED

3T ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH —COPYRIGHT. LONDON, March 23. Questioned as to whether the documents to he submitted would memdo the War Oliice’s verbal instructions to General Sir Arthur Pao.ct, Lohl 3ioJlo/ replied that it would be a dubious precedent to publish highly confidential instructions. Mr. Asquith, similarly questioned, replied that tho documents obviously cannot deal with matters which are oral. Tho Firsts Association tiuit tho tabling of tbo docmnoi.ts is »wnu«l with the utmost interest and a good deal of anxiety among Uie Cu»v**rnment’s supporters. Tlic Ministry m threatened with widespread u*vult m tho rank and file if tho rumours current regarding the nature of the document exculpating Brigadier-General Gough prove correct. Tho seriousness of the position cannot bo exaggeratedIt is iniofHciallv staled that* liberals, Labourite and National!** alike are unsparing in their condemnation of the Ministerial attitude. Liberal newspapers and lobbyists agree that the situation is critical. It is rumoured that Colonel Sooty, at Momlbv’s meeting of the Cabinet, offered to'resign, but this was not accepted. Tho Daily Citizen accuses tbs L-mg of interfering, and adds that iho Premier and the Liberal Government come badly out of the business. Lord .Esher, in a loiter to tbo newspapers, says it is widely believed that a movement, of Aldershot troops to Ireland is contemplated, involving tho calling up of tho reserves. Ho is convinced that tho first detachment sent to Ireland will result in tho resignation of 50 per cent, of the officers and men of the London Territorial force. The Daily News says the country wants to know why Earl -Roberts on Saturday was moving between Buckingham Palace and the Wav Office, and what tho Archbishop of Canterbury was doing in this affair. Tho debate in tho House of Commons on the Armv Estimates revealed a widespread Liberal aud Labour discontent with the Government's actions concerning Brigadier-General Gough. i-ohby ’correspondents -suggest urn possibility of a grave situation a 1 isiug out of to-morrow’s debate. Unionist newspapers give prominence to statements of the Government s attempt at a coup d’etat, by the third buttle squadron aud thu lourlh destroyer division co-operating with General Paget’s forces. THE GOUGH INCIDENT. Soldiers lotidlv cheered BrigadierGeneral Gough and Major Mac Ewan on their a.rrival at the camp. Speaking to tho officers and soldiers, gathered at the gates of his home, General Gough said that tho officers would al ho reinstated and would not bo called on to use force against Ulster. If they' wont for other duty he had a guarantee that they would not he asked to boar arms against the Ulstermen. There was great cheering. General Gough informed the Daily Telegraph: “1 have a signed guarantee that"nnder no circumstances will 1 ho used to force Homo Rule upon Ulster. I am willing to undertake ordinary' dutv, such as the protection of life and property and the preservation of order, but if it came to civil war I would rather fight for Ulster than against. ’ Another account slates'that when General Gough and Majors Mac Ewan and Parker reached the War Office stormy scenes occurred. Field-Marshal French criticised thoir action, saying it merited the severest punishment. Tho intervention of Field-Marshal Earl Roberts restored a better feeling, and finally the officers received a document of manv paragraphs, written in legal phraseology, setting out tho conditions under which they were to serve in Ulster. Brigadier-General Gough replied: 1 ‘Wo are plain soldiers, and wo don’t understand those legal j terms. Wo want things put plainly.” General Gough then read: “Are we to understand that we are not to bo asked to bear arms against Ulster or enloroo the present Home Rule Bill? Can wo return and tell the officers koP” After further argument FieldMarshal French wrote on General Gough’s paper, “Yes, tills is so,” aud signed it. Three copies of the document were made, and deposited with solicitors. The Union Defence League collected £54,029 in five days to assist the Ulster fund. 'Hie list commenced by Mr. Herbert Gibbs offering £IOOO us a protest against Mr. Winston CluircliiH’s. speeches. AMERICAN IRISH DRILLING. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received March 28, 8.0 a.in.) NEW YORK, March 25, ' Air. M‘Donald, president of the Dublin Club, declared that five hundred men were ready to sail to Ireland to fight tho Ulstermen. They were fully armed and had been secretly drilling for months. ONE WAY OF PUTTING THINGS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SUN SERVICES. (Received March 20, 8.0 a.m.) LONDON, March 25. Mr. Amory, M.P., raised tho question

of Urn army crisis. Mo said that Colonel Seely,' with cbiirar.erMic optimism, assured iho (Jovcnimciu it might always reckon on the army ns a blind tool lor any crime it meant to perpetrate. A BAD GI’KSS. TIMES AND SYDNEY SI'S SKI’. VICES. (Received March 'dfi, S.O a.m.t HAIMS. -V.nrrli 'Jo. The Ritta.ro conceives ii possible that if the King were to refuse his mj.iv,',uire to tlic Home Hole Hill, ill- Socialists might MX’iiro a majority and rcclaro a Republic.

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/TH19140326.2.24.1

Bibliographic details

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144360, 26 March 1914, Page 3

Word Count
831

A DIFFICULT SITUATION Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144360, 26 March 1914, Page 3

A DIFFICULT SITUATION Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144360, 26 March 1914, Page 3