THE ULSTER SITUATION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 654, 25 March 1914, Page 5

THE ULSTER SITUATION.

DEVOLUTION ADVOCATED. GENERAL GOUGH ACCLAIMED. By Telegraph..—Press Association.— Copyright Received this day, 8 45 a.m. London, Tuesday. The idea of a federal or devolution settlement finds increasing support in several lewspapers. Eight Liberals, writing in the Westminster Gazette, say the Government's Ulster offer, though statesmanlike, and the best under the circumstances, suffers from the admitted defect of want of finality. The writers warmly advocate the Westminster Gazette's suggestion, cabled on February 18th as the best means of securing a definite settlement. The whole constitutional question could be dealt with during Ulster's six years' period of exemption. The Unionist papers declare Sir Arthur Paget is the scapegoat. They hint at the possibility of his resignation and acclaim General Gough as the man of the hour. A band of officers saved the country from disaster. The Liberal papers declare the Tory attempt to split the army failed, and declare the limit of patience has been reached. Mr Cowan asked the Premier to consider the exclusion of Ulster pending a general scheme of devolution. Mr Asquith replied that was anxious the fullest consideration to a proposal likely to afford common grounds of agreement. THE ARMY ATTITUDE. IS IT A TORY INSTITUTION? London. Tuesday. Sir Arthur Paget and General Gough have returned to Ireland. The opinion generally expressed in the lobby after Mr Asquith's speech is that it is now impossible for the Government to call on the army to coerce Ulster. Many Liberals and Nationalists are disappointed that the Govermnent did not accept the officers' resignations. Moderate Liberals are debating Mr Wason's suggestion to the effect that if sufficient M.P.'s of all parties support the exclusion of the counties until a Federal system has been established, probably the Ministerial and Uniunist leaders would accept this. The Daily News says the public want to know the conditions upon which the officers returned. Are there conditions of unqualified or optional obedience. If the army is a Tory institution the Liberals wil break it is they broke the House of

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