THE ULSTER CRISIS.

Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15304, 25 March 1914, Page 7

THE ULSTER CRISIS.

RESIGNATIONS. THE BURNING SUBJECT. DISCUSSED IN THE HOUSE. Press Association—By Tel. —Copyright. LONDON, March 23. The House of Commons was crowded when the second reading debate on the Home Rule Bill was resumed. On taking their seats on the Treasury Benches the Prime Minister, Mr Asquith, and the Chancellor, Mr Lloyd George, were cheered, while members of the Opposition raised cries of "Limehouse." The Prime Minister, in reply to a question, said that he unable at present to say when the vote on the second reading of the Home Rule Bill would be taken. Mr Asquith, in reply to Mr Bonar Law, promised further facilities for the discussion of the situation in Ulster after hearing Colonel Seely's statement, if Mr Bonar Law thought it necessary. RESIGNATIONS. DUE TO MISUNDERSTANDING. Mr Asquith said that in December the officers commanding were informed that they might be called to assist the civil power, and that officers domiciled in the area might be excused. The movement of troops was how concluded. Colonel Seely stated that some officers had informed General Paget, who is iu command of the troops in Ireland, that they would not serve in certain eventualities. This situation 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. It is authoritatively stated that a number of officers of the Belfast command have resigned. EXCITING LETTERS. Mr Bonar Law said it was a most amazing instance of the Government paltering with the House of Commons. The danger of the Army being destroyed before their eyes came on the Government like a bolt from the blue. He had received proof that officers other than those of cavalry regiments had tendered their resignations. He read a letter stating that officers not fighting against Ulster would be dismissed. The moving of troops by the Government was foolish, as no * new situation had arisen. Mr Bonar Law also read a letter which was not written by General Paget, but was a letter containing a statement which General Paget was reported to have made to officers at the Curragh camp. In this letter it was alleged that General Paget stated that active operations were to begin against Ulster; that he expected the country would be ablaze by Saturday; that he was in close communication with the War Office and had received instructions from it. Mr Bonar Law said it was difficult for Mr Asquith to convince the House that without his knowledge seme of his colleagues had made a movement of troops as part of a concerted plan to provoke or intimidate Ulster. Great excitement followed the read- [ ing of the letters. A CONTRADICTION. Mr Asquith said that General Paget emphatically denied saying that this was the first step in operations to conquer Ulster. General Paget never received instructions from the War Office to justify him in making such a statement. It was an undoubted fact that General Gough and other officers had misinterpreted the instructions, and the Army Council was now satisfied that there a misunderstanding. The officers were also satisfied. THE GOVERNMENT'S SURPRISE. Mr Balfour said that undoubtedly the Government thought the circumstances exceptional and made exceptional provision to meet them. Then they encountered unexpected opposition on the part of officers. The Government had forced a crisis of infinite danger to the community and the army. General Gough had resigned because he would not fight Ulster and had now been reinstated, though he would not fight Ulster. A motion for adjournment of the House was negatived Without a division. In the House of Lords Viscount Morley was pressed to publish the Army Council's instructions to General Paget. He promised to make an announcement to-morrow. CONFERENCEsTwiTH THE KING. The King has cancelled his visit to the Grand National and gave audience to General Paget. General Paget conferred with Colonel Seely, Minister of War, prior to a lengthy Cabinet Council. Colonel Seely then proceeded to Buckingham Palace.

their oath of resistance, while the army for the moment is paralysed. Never was so delicate an issue so stupidly bungled and mishandled." ' A GERMAN VIEW. BERLIN, March 23. German newspapers attribute the Irish trouble to' the evils of democracy, and emphasise the dangers of the voluntary military system. DEBATE CONTESTED. MR BONAR LAW. Received 1.10 a.m., March 25th. LONDON, March 24. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law read a letter from an officer who was present at a conference. It said that Sir Arthur Paget spoke of active operations being about to commence against Ulster, and. he expected the country would be ablaze by Saturday. He assured his officers that he had War Office instructions. Mr Bonar Law said it was impossible that General Cough's dismissal had been due to misconception, and the country had a right to know the terms of his reinstatement. He asked the Premier to say openly whether he was reinstated on a distinct understanding that he was not _+o be asked to use troops to enforce Home Rule. Officers who refused on conscientious grounds should be permitted to resign without forfeiting their pensions. The situation had arisen through the Government attempting to coerce a part of the population without authority from the electors.

PRIME MINISTER'S REPLY. Mr Asquith commenced by defining the Army's duty. It must protect military property and render assistance if the civil power was inadequate to deal with riot and disorder. When Mr Asquith stated that officers domiciled in Ulster might resign, he was asked if similar regulations applied to strikes. Mr Asquith said "Yes; it is a good rule, where the military force is called in to assist the civil force, to avoid employing men having dcmestio ties in. the locality.' Mr Asquith; proceeding, said that when Sir Arthur Paget received the "War Officers instructions he assembled the Divisional and Brigadier Generals, and intimated to them that the movement might cause excitement and orders might be varied by consequential supplementary movements. General Gough, who is a most distinguished cavalry and a man of very great and well deserved reputation, and some other officers interpreted Sir Arthur Pa get's observations in the sense of the letter which Bonar Law had read. The officers were now satisfied that there had been a misunderstanding, end had returned, expressing full willingness to discharge their duties.

The Premier concluded that it was 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 was recognised tho whole fabric whereon the iaw was built would disappear. "If half a million men struck for shorter hours or better wages, and brought society near to starvation would the officers) disobey orders because they believed tho men's cause iust? 1 protest against tho notion that the Army and Navy must ultimately determine the counpolicy." MR BALFOUR. Mr Balfour said it was absurd for the Premier to use conciliatory language while. Mr Churchill was blowing the call to arms in Yorkshire, and while the Premier was calling out the fire engines to put out the conflagration, sent two colleagues to cut the mains and destroy the water supply. Never before had it been thought necessary, when supporting a magistrate or look-' ing after small arms, to lay down conditions that persons who had relations dear to them might disappear and later come back without loss of military reputation. The thing was manifestly 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; crisis in our civil wars, and in the contest with the American colonies and at the time of the disruptions of North and South. Such a crisis was due to circumstances beyond tho power of man. In this case the crisis was due to the insane folly of the Government's refusal to look facts in the face. A LABOUR LEADER. i Mr Ramsay Mac Donald said that if General Gough was not prepared to do his duty ho ought to be dismissed. The Syndicalists had apparently su~ ceeded in inoculating the Tories wits their poisonous views. Hundreds of thousands of trade unionists will say to the Army officers: "You are prepared to shoot strikers, because you do not sympathise with them, but yoa did not do your duty in Ulster because of class bias and political prejudice." LN THE LORDS. Lord Morley, in the House of Lords, repeated the Ministerial statement given in the House of Commons, and added that the King approved of General Gough and his officers Deing ordered to rejoin. NEWSPAPER VERSIONS. Newspapers state that the War Office verbally assured General Gough yesterday that the cavalry would te required only to assist in preserving law and order in Ulster. He ask?a for a written assurance to that effect, which was granted. General Gough agreed to resume, and telegraphed to his regiment that all officers could ne reinstated without loss of prestige. The "Daily Mail" adds that General Gough telegraphed to the officers at the Curragk on Sunday, after his 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." ANGRY COMMENT. ON OFFICERS' "STRIKE." The "Daily Chronicle" (Liberal), says —"lt is useless for to tell us officers did not strike. We all know they did. Their action raises the question—-Are

army officers to dictate to Parliament what Bill shall or shall not pass? The evil trill grow with tolerance. Not a, few good judges think that if their places could he filled with other officera who treat their profession more seriously the strike would prove a blessing in disguise." The "Chronicle's" lobby correspondent says that many liberals dislnked. even the appearance of surrender to military influences, and if the Government had adopted the iron hand and sent the resigning officers about their business it would hare been much more agreeable to most of their supporters, who think the situation in Ireland has been badly handled, and that Colonel Seely has not covered himself with glory. OFFICERS IN NEW ZEALAND. DESIGNING THEm^COMMISSIONS. (Per Press Association.) OHRISTCHURCH, March 24. It was stated on good authority tonight that several Imperial OMcers 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 as he would if he were at Home, and he could not see any reason for acting differently owing to the fact of. his being out here. The resignations have nothing to do with New Zealand appointments.