HOME MULE BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1982, 12 February 1914, Page 5

HOME MULE BATTLE

$ FIRST SHOT. THE SPEECH FROM THE THRONE. DEBATE OPENS. PREMIER DOES NOT DESPAIR OF SETTIIMT. By Telegraph—Press Association—CoDyrie&t London, February 10. King George and Queen Mary opened Parliament in state. The weather was fino. ' The Speech from tho Throno regretted that tli© efforts to solve, the Homo Rule question by agreement had not been successful. I'no hopo was expressed that in dealing, with a matter in which tho hopes and fears of so many were keenly concerned, and which, unless handled now with foresight awl Judgment,' and in a spirt of mutual conccs* sion, threatened grave future difficulties, that tho co-operation of all parties and creeds would secure a lasting settlement. Proposals would ha submitted to reconstitute, tho Second Gha-mber,_ and measures introduced to deal with industrial, agricultural, and housing questions, Imperial naturalisation, develop:ment of national education, and to give effect to tho Safety .at Sea Conference's recommendations. , The Speech referred to friendly foreign relations, and tlio approaching visit of the Kin* and Queen to M. Poincare, tho President of France. Satisfactory negotiations were proceeding with Germany and Turkey regarding, industrials-hold' commercial interests in Mesopotamia a-.ncl the Persian Gulf, Mr. Long, in moving tho amendment to tho Address-iii-RepTy, declared that tho United. Kingdom was for tho- first time fos. centuries threatened by civil war. One hundred' thousand Ulster-men Were determined at the cost of their lives to resist tho Homo Rule Bill, Bloodshed had been avoided only by Sir Edward Carson's resolute and brave leadership. Ho asked, whether tho Government was, sure that the struggle would bo confined to Ireland.. The- fact of the Government not daring to interfere in South Africa at the. present moment showed how idle was the Imperial Parliament's toasted supremacy. Mr. Long urged tho Premier to pause and consult the electorate. It would bo a crinwof the- first magnitude if. the soldiers shot down people in Ulster. Mr. Ascjuith (Prime Minister) replied that it was known prior to the 1910 election that the Parliament Act was to bo used-to carry the- Home Rule Bill. Tho 'question could bo settled better, by agreement than by a dissolution. Referring to conversations with Mr. Boiinr Law (Leader of the Opposition),, he said ho did not despair of the possibility of a settlement, and would use. no last word regarding tho matter. - After remarking that there Was nothing tho' Government would not do, consistent with, the fundamental principles of tho Bill, to avoid civil war, the Premier concluded by announcing that the Government would without - delay submit to the Houso. suggestions which would bo. honestly, put forward. MR. ASQUITH'S POSITO.N. NOT GOING TO PRONOUNCE A FINAL JUDGMENT: . " (Rec; February 11', 11,20* p.m.) London, February 11 . Mr. Long's speech was market! by sincerity and earnestness. He denied that the Unionists wore sowing disloyalty in tlio Army, though it was true there-was great anxiety and many soldiers had sent in. their commissions rather than fight against Ulster. He asked if tho defensive forces were so strong that the Government wefe prepared to-run this great risk.' The Government, he said, should nroduco their proposals without delay. There Was no justification for prolonging the terrible agony of the Irish people. Mr. Ascruitli, who received a great reception, declared that the recent- byolection indicated that there was no change in rcptfrd to Homo Rule' 'A dissolution Would ho useless. It would re-' duco the Parliament' Act to a nullity, and mipht result in a condition of stalemate.. If tho Opposition were victorious they would be faced With the problem of governing Ireland, of which flircefnurths would' be bitterly disappointed. Ho asked if the Liberals gained a majority would Ulster lay do'w'n its arms? There Was iio reason why Ulster should change its -opinions because «.,number of British electors—ijjiOTrfeotlv informed on Irish affairs and' more interested in land and tariff reform or in tlio Insurance Bill—dioso to say so. Ho asked tho Opposition if 'tliey would give a guarantee that if the Government measure were approved by the elector's it should pass into law. Sir Edward Carson interjected, asking whether the Government .would dron Homo Rule if it were not so approved. Mr. Asquitli replied: "There is no parity between tlio tw« positions, You control tho Lords. If. tho matter can bo settled by something in the nature of a general agreement it had better— inueli better—be- settled hero now." Ho regretted that his recent colwofS-ations with Mr, Banal- Law had failed in tlio attainment of an aglo.eiiie.ljt, but ho did not despair of the "possibility of ,1 settlement. He thought tho pfssage in tho King's speech Was echoed in every cOrnor of the House. He. was not even going to pronounce a final judgment against tho exclusion of Ulster,' though even the Opposition would regard it as undesirable. It might perhaps be.tho only means of escape from more formidable evils. Ho personally favoured Sir Horace Plu.-irkett's plan of including Ulster with the Option of exclusion, after a time. Mr. Asquith, in concluding, said that any concessions must be regarded as the price of peace. By this ho did' not mean the-avoidance of civil strife,, hut peace, which' would enable the Irish Government to ttart in ail atmosphere giving it a fair chance, of Working successfully. He could not believe that tho country was reduced to such insolvency of statesmanship that it conic], not with honest mind and goodwill avoid tho evils and dangers ahead. Directly the necessary financial business was> completed tho Government would put forward suggestions to secure a settlement. After Mr. Asqiiith's speech, tho debate languished. Mr, Lough (secretary to the Board -at Education). said that Ulster's opposition would largely bo met by the adoption of proportional reprecentation in the Irish Parliament. Mr. Chamberlain revived the debate with a speech of great Vivacity. The House was then crowded. He said: "The Premier claims having received a mandate. Did he ask a manilnte U wage civil War? Did ho receive the electors' authority to Use the British trOops to shoot down ilieif Mlow-cili-stens of Ulster? These feel thev have been robbed of their rights and privileges by a procedure which Was bc<n:ii in'fraud, and which will be consummated by force. Tf the G'ovornmoint. cannot think kindly of Ulsteimon, lot them think for a moment that the_ Ulstcrmen are Greeks or Armenians. The Liberals will then ■sympathise with them. *nd loudly proclaim that they ar« rightly struggling to be free,". Mr. Chamberlain concluastl by ashing if tho'Covejamcat meant to exclude.,

and if it would secure to Ulster the same rights as Great Britain enjoys, If the Government answered "Yes," tlio danger ef civil war would be. Averted. If not, civil war was certain. Exclusion was the only possiblo basis of peace, but even that would not make tlio $ill good or safe. Mr. Simon moved the adjournment. JrJ THE HOUSE OF LORDS. A SIMILAR DEBATE. (Roe. February 11, 11.20 p.m.) London, February 11. A similar debate took place in tlio House of Lords. , Lord Middk'ton moved that it would bo disastrous to proceed with Homo Rule, and Lord Morley repeated Mr. Asqtiith's arguments that the Government realised the vast importance of the Bill to Ulster. Tho debate was adjourned. PEACEFUL SETTLEMENT LIKELY. (Rec. February 11, 11,20 p.m.) London, February 11. Tho New Governor-General of the Commonwealth (the Rt. Hon, Muiiro* Ferguson), in farowcliing his constituents, said ho confidently believed in a peaceful settlement of the Irish question. He believed that Mr. Asquith would find A way out. of the difficulty, while conserving the principles they had fought for for years. It should bo practicable to devise a form df Home Rulo within Homo Rule to satisfy the North of IrS&ai. SIR HORACE PLUNKETT'S PLANS. London, February 10. Sir Horace Phinlsotf, after confidential interviews with, tlio Ulster leaders) proposes that Protestant Ulster should accept tho Horno Rulo Bill, a condition bong that a- plebiscite should decide at the end of a fixed .period whether Ulster shall continue to be subject to tho Irish Parliament. He also proposes that tlio Ulster Vciltinteers should be .given an opportunity to organise fts a Territorial foree, thus preserving an ultimate safeguard on which to rely for the prescrv'a- ■ f-ion of their liberties.