A FIGHTING SPEECH.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14837, 1 December 1913, Page 7

A FIGHTING SPEECH.

ULSTER AND CIVIL WAR.

Mr Bonar Law interpreted the contrast between Mr Asquith's Ladybank and Leeds speeches as showing, besides the bargain with the Nationalists, the existence of written evidence which would damn the Government for evermore, if disclosed. Referring to Mr Lloyd George's admission that the Insurance Bill had been forced through, when he knew that if it were referred to the people it would be rejected, Mr Bonar Law asked whether the Government were doing the same with Home Rule. Tho Government had impr.on.od Larkin to please tbo Nationalists, and had released hira to pleaso the English Socialists. If the Government really believed themselves entitled to pass the Bill, they showed criminal weakness in allowing the Ulster organisation .to continue. - They were aware that any attempt to arrest Sir Edward Carson would show how deeply earnest Ulster was. Perhaps, it would be said he was endangering Sir Edward Carson's liberty without risking his own. He was ready, however, to give the Government the right to prosecute him also. The Unionists were still ready to consider any proposal to avert civil war. He thought Mr Asquith- desired, and saw the prospect of a settlement, but his Leeds speech implied that Mr Redmond had •given him orders. If the Government attempted to coerco Ulster . before a general election was held Ulster would do well to resist, and the Unionists would support such resistance. Mr Bonar Law added that his candid opinion was that the Government intended to bluff until the last and then climb down. '