ULSTER QUESTION.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 656, 1 April 1914, Page 5

ULSTER QUESTION.

MINISTER OF WAR RESIGNS. MR ASQUITH ASSUMES PORTFOLIO. London, Monday. The House of Commons was crowded and members were tensely excited when they met to resume consideration of the Home Rule situation today. Before the House met Lieut.-Col. Seel? resigned his portfolio as Minister for War. Mr Asquith announced to the House that Generals French and Ewart persisted in their resignations. He deeply deplored their decision and could riot speak too warmly and gratefully of their ability, loyalty, and devotion to duty. He hoped that they would continue to serve the army. In the circumstances he felt it hia duty to assume the office of Minister for War. (Loud cheers). The King had approved of this course. Mr Asquith then announced his retirement from his constituency. All lawyers were agreed that it was necessary for him to be re-elected after assuming the new portfolio. COL. SEELY'S STATEMENT. Colonel Seely, from the corner of the third bench above the gangway, in the course of a personal statement, said that there was no difference between hismelf and his colleagues on any point of policy or principle. He pressed his resignation because it appeared, though this was not his intention. that there had been bargaining with officers regarding ihe service they should render the Crown. As Generals French and Ewart had resigned he was obliged to surrender his own place. It might b9 that the whole army system would have to be recast, but he would not discuss that now. He hoped J[to still support the Premier and the causes for which he stood. DEMOCRATISING THE ARMY. THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION. Received this day, 8.50 a.m. London, Tuesday. Mr. Bonar Law, in the House of Commons, referring to the question whereto he nodded assent, explained that he intended to say if the electorates supported the Government he and the Unionists would not be justified in encouraging §Ulster's resistance. He added, whether or not, the Government was justified in coercing was a matter for their own conscience. Sir J. Simon declared there was no length to which the Government would not go to avoid civil war, but they thought it right and necessary to let the Ulster volunteers down. The Ministers fixed intention was to use the forces of the Crown if necessary to prevent the usurpation of the law by force. Mr Birrell, replying to a question stated that prior to the movement of troops' and the orders dispatched to the naval squadron in Ireland, no information bad been received regarding the prevalence of disorder in Ulster necessitating such precautions nor any request from the civil authorities lor assistance. The Hon. Mr Haldane emphasised that any attempt to democratise the army would be attended by formidable difficulties and would take probably fifteen years and enormous expenditure, and then Would not be equal to the present splendid service. There are rumours in the lobby that Mr Asquith has received a message from Lord Hardinge that many officers of the Indian army will resign unless the Government makes peace with the army instead of permitting the Ministers to drive it to rebellion.