CRISIS AT HAND

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2013, 21 March 1914, Page 5

CRISIS AT HAND

• —<j>" >— ANGRY SCENE IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. DEFEAT OF CENSURE MOTION, ■ DRAMATIC EXIT OF MR LEADER RUMOURED WARRANTS FOR ARRESTS. By Tfilecrarh-Pms Astcctettoa-Cowxteßt (Kec. March 20, 10.4-o'p.m.) ismfcfl, March 20. In the House or' Com-ramis, Mr. Bonar Law, the Unionist Loader, moved his motion of censure on the. Government for its failure to supply the, House with details of his Home fiulo- Settlement proposals, The House of Commons was crowded. Mr. Balfour, who was hurriedly summoned froin Cannes, catered 'during debato, and. ttaa loudly cli-eored. Tho motion was defeated, the- voting being:— For tho motion 252 Against 3-15 Majority against ... 5J3 Appsal to the People. Speaking to the- motion, Mr. Bonar Law said that in vkw of Mr. Churchill's recimt apetch on. tho HomeHulo question, and Mr. A.squit,h's-ap-proval of it,. t-ko situation was more dangerous than ever, .It was not t-nio that tho Opposition demanded details in order to obtain a larger target for its lire. "If Mr. Asquith chooses to introduce iiis suggestions into the Bill and submit thorn to the eaimtey ioi- a referendum," sssfd tie speaker,' ''Lord Lalisdowno would bo willing to uso Ms milueiico in tho House of Lords to offer no objection in carrying out the people's decision. If it is only a question of disorder the Army would, and ought, to obey, but if it is -civil war, the soldiers aro citizens, like the rest of tho_ people." Mr. Bonar Law added:'"l had always hoped and believed that somo way of cscapo from a tragedy in Ulster might oiler, but after Mr. Churchill's speech, and Mr. Asquith's acqniWeniw to thai speech, tho way of escape must come trom a source whfcli I am una Mo to lorscc." Unlike- Mr. Churchill, lie could imagine nothing worse than civil war. Personally, ho would never risk bravo lives for 4 political consideration. Tiioy would absolutely re-ject this automatic exclusion of Ulster, and if the Ulstermon continue their resistance iho Unionists would assist them. Tlie Government's proposals sha-wed that they (file Government) did nat feel justified in forcing Ulster to fioma in to-day. If 'that word true, bow could they justify forcing them in to-mo-irow ? He offered to accept tht> decision of a referendum. If the Prime Minister refused, he would incur a terrible responsibility.

Prime Minister's Rejiy, , Mr. Asquith d-ksontesl from the proposition regarding tho Army's duty,' lint.,agreed.. that. Moods-hod was never jiistifiablo if thei'fl-fwas a'iiotlsor coilrac-. Ho .asked if tho referendum''favoured tho. Government wffltlel ifc,carry authority for tho Govor-iirijerji; to coerce 'fester? .. :, -'-. Mr. Bonar Law (Loader ef tho Opposition) nodded assent, ainid loud Minis-, terial cheers.

Mr. Bonar La* added that ho would bo willing to. accept a teloreiidum without plural voting. Mr. Asquith., c<j!v.tim.ijiife, said thai ho- subscribed to Mr. Bonar Law's desire to take tho risks of ono solution, which, however wipa.tttt-.aMe, would lie acceptable Bloodshed would never ho justifiable if there Wis any other possible course. Ho was unable to assentto Mr. Bonar Law's proposition in regard to the functions of the Army. The judgment as to tho.. quesfcioii of intervention could not' be left to uidrv-liials. Such an idea stxtlok at the very root of society. Tho Opposition were pre* pared, if tho referendum favoured tt.o Government nroposals, to go the length of coercing Ulster. (Ministerial cheers.) Tho Government's proposal was' Tcnily moro favourable to the minority in Ire 1 * land than was Mr. Bonar Law's.. Be nnpealed to Sir Edward Carson: Would Ulster accept? Firm Offer Wanted-, Sir Edward Carson; Let the' Prime Minister mako a firm offer.' Mr.' Asquith's is not. ~ "My offer," replied Mr. Asquith, "is the Opposition's offer." He saw ho way to bring the electors to a frame of mmd in which to vote on a single, issue, without considering alt tho political consequences of this deeisian. How could the Government pretend to carry on if an adverse decision were given on its principal Bill? - The Government lad provided on- perfectly democratic linos against any coercion, of Ulster- Therefore, tho Opposition's appeal to «>iisi■anco was not justified. ''We Am quite content with the Bill as it stands." Mr.; Asquith concluded his speech without giving a, definite promise rcgarduie a referendum. Sir Edward Carson asked why, if tl-iu Government was- in earnest, it did not exclude Protestant- Ulster. until Parliament had otherwise entered, Tho Government's proposals -in tteir present form were not worth Ulster's consideration. If the Prima Minister gnvo a firm offer of a refere-adum, Uie.y would be prepared to accept its decision. A &ecn.S. Mr. J. Devlin {Nationalist member for West Belfast) ioflowed. Mb accused Sir Edward Carson of commencing i.ifo as a Nationalist ami deserting to tho enemy. Sir Edward Carsoii interjected: "That is an infamous lie," The Speaker intervened, and Sir Edward Carson substituted the words "A wilful falsehood." Mr. Devlin, wkt lias not participated in tho Home iteik debates for two years, created a scene with au accusation' against Sir Edward- Carson that ho .(Sir Edward) had accused tho Government of "skulking behind the trad-ps." If the question were referred to the nrbitrament of tho sword, it would be agreeable to them if the Government would withdraw its troops, when the Nationalists would right the fesue themselves. Mr.- Austen Chamberlain (Unionist) said that although titer© was it certain amount of agreement on the question- of separate treatment far Ulster, time would bo no peaco along the fiath tiro Government had taken. Jits refused to believe that tho G-owttjnjen't wouid.com* mit tho crime of cooroi&n. Sir Edward Carson, in eonse<j«eii«y of Mr. Asquitli's trifling with the subject, left his pktco in the- House, en route to Belfast. "If this is tho'Government's last word, what more have wo to do here?" ho asked as he left tho Chamber. "Mr. Chureliifi has accused the Ulstermon of engaging in acritical conspiracy. If so. tot the Government try conclusions in Ulster. But tho Government is a Government of cowards." He challenged them to ho as far as they liked:, but they could never carry this country with them in tho belief that their action would linns peace in Ireland. The. Government was going to entrench itself behind the

troops, who would Iweonio assassins under the Govenuueni's directions. HfJGRY SCENES (N THE OOMMpNS. RUMOUKED WARRANTS FOR ARREST OF ULSTER LEADERS, . (Roc. March 20, 9.30 p.m.) London, March 20. . Ruling tho censure debate tlie House of Gammons was crowded, and feeling lv 'as high, and at thnos passionate. When Sir Edwaftl Carson concluded hi-s speech ho left ths» Chamber, en route for Belfast. T\n Unionists rose and. encored him as foe was leaving, and as lie disappeared they shouted to Mr, Devlin (tho Irish N 7 ational.is.t): "Whv don't you go to Belfast?" __ Mr. Devlin retorted that ho had fust emm from there, with a message that thcro bad never been "a greater •shame end fraud than this talk of civil war." While Mr. Devlin was speaking, Major Archer-Shee (Unionist) sent a lwte- to Mr. Michael Flavin (National' ist). in which, it is believed, lie. anj noli need a 'challenge, to a duel. The couple afterwards had a licatftl altercation in tho lobby, hut friends intervened. Sir Edward Carson, Lord Londonderry, ami other Ulster leaders haves gone to Belfast. There are unconfirmed rumours that warrants have been issued for the arrest of Sir Edward Carson aftct tho others. ULSTER'S VOLUNTEER ARMY. 110,000 MEN IN THEIR PRIME. LoHtfon, March 10. Ulster possesses a hundrcsi aflcl toil thousand covenanters,, men in tho prime of life, who aro divided into sixty-five battalions. 11l by have been organised .<yn a democratic basis, electing their own officers and having & signalling corps. They are abli? to roach tlio ■ furthest j point 'in Ulster in four hours. Eighty thouaaad rifles aro avaiteblcj tho bulk being entrusted in parcels wf five, to selected men, who have cf'isfersed them in all parts, together with ftuiinunitiw'i. Tho'men can he ready iinrcMiat-eiy. v London, March 10. _ Tho inereiised .police smrvoil'biioo is causing esflspefatioft in Ulster. BEADY TO TAKE THE HELD. (Roe. March 21, 0.10 a.m.) Lorl'dvii) March 20. The Naval lleservista in Ulster have, been summoned for duty nest week. Tlio uotifteatiofi lias- caused exejtaijeiit. In view.of tlu'cateivod action against thorn, tho Ulster YehHiteefs, consisting of picked men, were called up on Thursday night.

The mows of Sir Edward Carson's hastened di'iaaJtutfe lias created a profound sensation in Belfast. It is estimated that SfJOQ men in Belfast are ready to take the field at an. hour's notice, while 30,000 can b.o g<it ready in six hours.

ME. ASQUITH VISITS THE KING-., ionsfon, March 19, The Prime Minister (Mr. Asqmih) had a.proloafsed- intem'.ow with tte King prior t« the debate, also with Sir Arthur StainfoKThaiij ("Private Secretary to His Majesty), who Was present throughout tta recent debates.

Mr. Wiiiston Citurcltflt (First Lord of tlvp MroiraityX in tha www of his sffepch ,saM tha? d«i«Wless there would be Mooilslied, and that was 'innwut-evtte, hut the cowardly aWltation of the Exeevitive's i-fc-■si)>.iiaftUi.y wouM be war.ip. l.aw atid'of* dec tijust prWiiif. "Wo are not .going to. have' Britain sunk to Jlesi*o'» 'coai}!-) trcnii" he Said. "If 'Utstnr weliS Keaoe, she knows wliotg to find it. hut if Svoiy ~ concession is spuiiiPii, if Ulster fyawmlfrs the tiol q{ party talfc'u'latJoits, if tlie <ch'il and Parliamentary systems are. broiis-lit to a Crtita ef'dU-Pijso of force, if reckless chatter in titis disflioMitt) of a sinister revolution, then let lis cc forward and put th«'j prove fnattci-s to proof.""