ULSTER.

Timaru Herald, Volume C, Issue 15334, 30 April 1914, Page 7

ULSTER.

HOT DEBATE. IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. ME, CHAMBERLAIN ATTACKS. ' MR CHTJRCHILL REPLIES. Pre»3 Association —By Tel.—Copyright. LONDON, April 28. Mr Austen Chamberlain reviewed the situation after Mr Asquith's appeal for peace on March 9, to which Sir Edward Carson replied that he would submit a settlement to XJlstermen if Ulster were excluded. The Government recognised this as an advance, nevertheless Mr Churchill on March 14, delivered a threatening and provocative speech, concluding "Let us (put these grave matters to the proof." Mr Asquith approved of this and the Curragh incident followed.. Colonel Seely was the tool of more astute and unscrupulous men. The Government had showed a lamentable want of candour and frankness, and was guilty of material misstatements in order to conceal its plans. Mr Asquith's letter to the "Times" of March; 23_ suppressed the more important '.part of the movements. The truth had been wrung from him bit by bit. The White Paper professed to give the full facts, but later fifty-five letters were published and some were of prime importance.

Mr Churchill described the motion as audacious and impudent. He aroused an uproar when lie referred to Sir Edward Carson's sliaafe in the gun-run-ning, and 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 he had been taunted by offensive expressions.

Mr Churchill went on to say that it was a cool request on the part of those organising a force to make war to ask for information as to the movements of the British troops. If General Paget asked for reinforcements he would have them. If the rebels fired on the "troops he (Mr Churchill) would take all steps in his power to secure their oondign 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 a Federal system. It would transform the political situation.

THE SPEECHES CONTINUED

Received 11.40 p.m.., April 29th. LONDON.. April 29. Mr Churchill declared that the first axiom of British justice demanded that a complaint should com© to court with clean hands. Sir E. Carson and Captain Craig come fresh from gunrunning exploits. (Cheers.) Sir E. Carson shouted: "We didn't tell lies about them/' A Ministerialist rejoined: "Oh, Careon! Behave like a Bang." Sir E. Carson retorted: "You behave like cads." Mr Churchill continued Fresh from gun-running exploits. They demanded an inquiry into the action of those responsible for the preservation of law and order. A Unionist interjected: "Why not arrest the criminals?" Mr Churchill: "Is the complaint that we have been too lenient ? That is the only accusation I am not prepared to answer." Mr Chamberlain complained that Mr Asquith had stated that general orders were given as far back as December that officers domiciled in Ulster disappear. Mr Asquith interjected. "It was told me, and I made the statement in good "faith." Mr Chamberlain aocepted Mr Asquith's statement. Summing up the charges against the Government he said it aippeared that the Government assumed that conciliation was hopeless unless they showed an overwhelming display of force. It was difficult to " know which of the statements now supplied to Mr Asquith were true. He concluded by suggesting that the Pre- ; mier should not accept a white- | washing by vote of a party majority, but insist on a judicial inquiry into the dark and tortuous proceedings. Mr Churchill said the motion was the most audacious and impudent de- . maud for inquiry in our records. The : object of the Ulster Army showed | that if the veto of the Lords was gone there remained the veto of force. After rejecting Ms Asquith's offer to Ulster, it was clear that those who w ®re preparing for civil war had other purposes outside Ulster, and were proParing to veto the general policy of Horn© Rule. Nothing oould be more disastrous than for the Opposition to suppose that they and their Ulster i friends were the only persons in the country prepared to risk their lives. Could anyone say, after what had ■ occurred in Ulster, that the measures ' the Government had taken were pre- ■ mature or unnecessary? He claimed ; the right to put British troops in Ulster, and the, right to arrest the leaders. Unless the Ulstermen took life first, their own lives were not endangered. MR REDMOND CONSULTED. "Timrs" and Sydney "Sun" Serv!oes. , Press Association —By Tel.—CopyrightI Mr Redmond was called in consultation with the Cabinet, which adjourned till the morning. A Ministerial offer is expected, possibly leading to an early ■ i dissolution. 1

REMARKS IN THE LORDS. COLLISION TO BE DREADED. Received 5.55 p.m., April 2&th. LONDON, April 28. In the House of Lords., Lord Lansdowne said that Ulster for the past two years had been a most peacable province because the volunteers were disciplined and had resisted the most violent provocation. The Government had now suffered a rude awakening.' He dreaded a oollision between the Ulster Volunteers and the Army. It was difficult to say which were the more loyal subjects. ( ULSTERMEN CANNOT BE PROSECUTED. A legal opinion states that the Ulstermen are not o.pen to a conviction, they were merely preparing for a contingency. FOREIGNER'S ADVICE. HOW TO SETTLE THE DISPUTEAt the Foreign i Consuls' dinner the Hon. T. Mackenzie was present. Mr •J- J. Stavridis, Consul-General for Greece, said the prolongation of Britain s domestic struggle endangers her* reputation aboad, as politicians, Press and publicists were acting in a purely partisan spirit. He recommended, in the commercial and national interests, that a few business men might exercise conciliation, concession and commonsense, and settle the matter satisfactorily.

SUPERNATURAL HELP NEEDED. Lord Kinnaird, President of the World's Evangelical Alliance, urges prayer to God to reveal to the Government a way of peace. AUSTRALIAN INTERFERENCE. Press Association—By Tel.— Copyright. SYDNEY; April 29. An open letter to Mr Asquith is being laigely signed in the ) various States denying the statements that the people of Australia as & whole favoured Home Rule and adding an expression of belief that Home Rule would tend to weaken the Empire and would be a permanent bar to Imperial Federation. The letter expresses a hope that MrAsquith will hold a referendum on the subject. It concludes:—"ln resisting such a policy of injustice and tyranny the Unionists of Ireland have our whole-hearted sympathy and all such support as it may be possible to render. It is stated that already nearly 100,000 signatures have been" secured.

ULSTER'S FIGHTING STRENGTH. THE "ARMY " AND ITS WEAPONS. ESTIMATES WHICH DIFFER. The London correspondent of the Sydney "Daily Telegraph" writes under date March 20:— It is practically impossible to approach, to a correct estimate of the lighting strength of the Ulster Volunteers. We' know that they are not the splendid fully-armed force represented by their political leaders; we know also that they are not the mere loud-voiced rabble, a.pried with wooden rifles and playing at bluff, represented by the Westminster Radicals and Nationalists. Even the aJlleged impartial statements of their fighting capacity by the special military correspondents of such journals as "The Times'' and the "Westminster Gazette" are not convincing. Of course, the political game will be played for all it is worth. Both sides appear equally confident; both, of course, are piaiying ac bluff. But, behind the bluff, each unquestionably believes in the righteousness of its cause, and, what is more important at this stage, in the ultimate success of its plan of campaign. One is obliged to confess that the hopes raised a fortnight aigo by Mr Asquith's offer of compromise have vanished almost' completely. The great debate in the Commons on Mi - Bonar Law's motion of censure yesterday w,as marked by passion, threats, and counter threats taking the place of higher statesmanship. Nothing but the strongest advice and pressure from Sir Edward Oa.ron and the Unionist leaders would induce Protestant Ulster to acquiesce in the Government terms. And this influence is not likely to be exerted for the plain reason, that the Unionists believe that in supporting a policy of violent resistance they are bringing about the downfall of the Government, and with it the destruction of the Parliament Act, and the indefinite postponement of Welsh Disestablishment and the Bi'U for the abolition of. plural voting. It is as well, therefore, to give consideration to Ulster's fighting powers. The army of the Covenanters io. Ulster itself would appear to exceed 100;000 men of a.ll ages. It is be&eved, too, that should fighting begin this force will be considerably increased by volunteers from other parts or the United Kingdom and even from the Overseas Dominions. The Covenanters, as they appear on parade, are not spectacularly impressive. They wear no uniforms but are distinguished only by armlets made of khaki, for the men and red canvas for the officers. With the exception of those who have gun licenses the Volunteers stiEl carry .their wooden guns. This does not imoly, however, that real rifles of fairly modern type are not available for the great majority of the troops. "The number of 'good modern rifles," writes the military correspondent of "The Times," "at the disposal of the Ulster Volunteers is cnly known to five or six nien, who have sensibly decided to keep their information to themselves. The general impression is that there may be 80.000 rifles available, but the writer is unable to affirm that this number, or any other number,-i's correct. Ulster is full of arms. Probably no one knows the total number in the province, partly because most of the wel'l-to-do people have purchased their rifles privately, and partly because it is a rare thing for an Irishman who possesses a rifle or a gun to take out a license for it. Headquarters buy rifles at the average price of £2 10s, and allot a rifle to every man who pays £1 for it. In many caseis this is riot necessary. In one company the writer heard of 70 rifles which were the property of the men who had all refused the £1 grant. In almost every house which the writer visited he found rifles and pistols. Practically everyone owns a pistol, Protestants and Nationalists alike. -

Although rifles have so far been distributed to very few of the Covenanters, _ nearly all of tliem have engaged in practice firing, and the result is said to be distinctly good. At the outset the leaders recognised that it would be inviting wholesale seizure by the Government -if these , rifles were kept at a few central depots Consequently they have been distributed in small parcels throughout the province, and any .attempt at their confiscation would lead to immediate and successful : • distribution. ' The American War of Independence an<J

the resistance of th© Boers are constantly cited as to what might be expected of the Covenanters. The parallel, however, is highly misleading. Nearly' every Boer was an expert rifleman before the South. African War began, and the ' American colonists had ample time before fighting, was general to beoome, efficient with firearms. In this direction the Covenanters are sorely handicapped, as if war oomes they will probably be fighting within a few days of the distribution of the rifles. The province is almost entirely without artillery and cavalry. Herein lies the real weakness of the force. Ulster's prospect of success if civil war war_ begins does not lie in the straight shooting or hard bitting of her sons, but in their capacity and the capacity of their political leaders to fight and behnve in such a manner as will bring to, the'support of their cause the majority of British voters. The real Ulster fight will not be on bloody battlefields in Ireland, but- upon political platforms and at- ballot boxes throughout the Kingdom.