British and Foreign

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 March 1914, Page 3

British and Foreign

|i'ER PItESS AafIOCIATIOH.i fcXECIIIIC TULEGfIAI'H —COPYRIGHT. HOME lil'LE CRISIS. (Ileeeived This Day 9.5 a.m.; London, March 2-3. The Xing has cancelled his visit to the Grand National meeting. He gave an audience to Sir Arthur Paget. The House of Commons was crowded. The lit. Hon. H. IT. Asquitli

and the lit. Hon. D. Lloyd-George were cheered and the Oppositionist- raised cries of "Limohouse.'" TholU. Hon. H. H. Asquitli, in reply to Mr Bonar Law, promised further facilities for the discussion of the Ulster-situation, if aftei Colonel Seely's statement Mr Bon;>r Law thought it necessary. Colonel Seely stated that sonic officers had informed .Sir Arthur Paget that they would not serv in the case of certain event ualitk;-.. This arose through a misunderstanding. These officers had (been ordered to rejoin the units. The movement of the troops was solely to protect Government arms and ammunition. Mr Bonar Law asked for time for further discussion, but the lit. Hon. H. H. Asquith moved the adjournment of the House. Mr Bonar Law said i< was a

most amazing instance of the Government paltering with the House of Commons. The danger of the army being destroyed befor? their eyes came on the Government like a bolt from the blue. He had received proof that officers other that those in the cavalry regiments had tendered their resignations. Ho read a letter stating that officers not fighting against IHster would.be dismissed. The Government's moving of troops was foolish as no new situation had arisen. He also read .a letter wherein Sir Arthur Paget stated that active operations were to begin against Ulster; that it was expected that the country would bo ablaze by Saturday; that he was in close communication with the War Office and had received iiistmot ions from thence. Mr Bonar Law said it was difficult- for the Rt. Hon. H. H. Asquitli to convince tho House that without his knowledge, some of hvA colleagues had made ihe movement of troops as part of a concerted plan to provoke or intimidate Ulster. (Receiver! This Day, 11 10 a.m.) London, March 2'S. The lit. Hon. H. H. Asquith, in the House of Commons, said that in December last the officers commanding were informed that they might be called urjpn to assist the civil power, and that officers

domiciled in the area might be excused. The movement of the troops is now concluded, troops is now concluded. Sir Arthur Paget emphatically denies saying that this is the first stop in the operations to conquer Ulster. Sir Arthur Paget received no instructions from War Office to justify sucli ;i statement. It was an undoubted fact that BrigadiorGeneral (rough and others had misinterpreted their instructions, and the Army Council was now satisfied that there was a misunderstanding; the officers also were satisfied with the correction. Mr Bonar Law's letter was not written by Sir Arthur Paget, bui was one containing a statement that Sir Arthur Paget was reported (o have made to the officers at the (''urrayli Tho Eight Hon. A. J. Balfour said tha£ undoubted!v the Government thought (lie circumstances exceptional, and made exceptional provisions. Then they encountered unexpected opposition on the part of the officers. The Government had forced a crisis of infinite danger to the com in unity and tho Army. Brigadier General Gough had resigned because he would not fight Flsler, and was reinstated, though ho still would

not fig-lit Ulster