No Developments.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 85, 31 March 1914, Page 5

No Developments.

HOME RULE FOR IRELAND,

VARIOUS OPINIONS.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] [United Press Association.! London, March 30. Lord Esher, in a letter in reply to Sir John Simons' advice to democratise the Army, suggests that Lc-t Morley should present Sir John with a copy of his monograph, "Cromwell," and adds: "A democratised conscript army, inasmuch as it is impossible to democratise a voluntary army like ours, would', prove a powerful weapon for fighting on the Continent of Europe, hut a fatal instrument fo>' domestic use, in the hands of "a tyrannical Parliamentary majority, or those of some political swashbuckler." Lords Chelmsford and Sydenham remark in a letter that the new Army order is tantamount to an acknowledgment that irregular questions were put to the officers at The Curragh, necessarily leading to an unprecedented request for assurances concerning the interpretation of the, orders whicn might he given in a certain hypothetical case. The lamentable events of the past week were directly due to an initial hlunder which caused anxiety alike to the Government and the Opposition. Surely the Government must now realise that its policy, which was profoundly pertruhing the conscience of a very large part of the nation, cannot he carried out to the hitter end, and extremists in the Opposition must see that the unbending insistence on their policy of negation regarding Ireland is equally hopeless. The letter concludes: "We firmly believe in true patriotism and statesmanship in the desperate nature of the situation. But there is a moderate element in the community which may prove to hold the casting vote at a general and demand the adoption of a middle course. We have both been apart from Home politics for many years, but we do know the British community beyond the seas is looking with the deepest apprehension on what is happening in the Motherland. It is too late to make this appeal to the leaders of both parties of the State on behalf of tho safety, honor and welfare of our Sovereign and dominions?" The London Chronicle says the King's action in the present crisis has been thoroughly constitutional. He has sought to restrain party passions, and in his role as impartial umpire and grand conciliator his Majesty's one desire has been to see the achievement of an honorable and permanent settlement of the Irish question*

A request having reached Generai Gough tq return the written guarantee~, the latter has been deposited at the bank. "

London, March 30

Mr T. P. O'Connor, writing on Sunday in Freeman's Journal, Dublin, says Colonel Seely's assurance to General Gough was written on Monday. Colonel. Seely attached so little importance to it that he did not tell Mr Asquith about it until Tuesday. Mr Lloyd Geoi'ge, seen by a friend on Tuesday, was unaware of the communication, and was in high spirits because of the magnificent way the Government had defined the position and upheld the doctrine of the Parliament's supremacy over the Army. He went to a Cabinet Council, and there learned the awful secret. He immediately saw the abyss into which the Government was about to fall. Mr Lloyd George, a man of prompt decision, saw immediately that the Government, must repudiate the fatal surrender of all constitutional principles.

The cruiser Foresight has relieved the Pathfinder at Belfast Lough. During the latter's stay, the members of the Ulster volunteers' signalling corps, for practising purposes, exchanged numerous messages with the signallers aboard, and when the Pathfinder left hearty messages were exchanged.

Crowds of Nationalists attacked three Ulster volunteers at Carrick Hill, in the Nationalist quarter of Belfast. The police dispersed the Nationalists. One of the volunteers was badly injured and sent to tho hospital.

THE N.S.W. PREMIER.

Sydney, March 30

Mr Holman, speaking at the annual breakfast of the Irish National Foresters, said he had heard of a little party which might go on a piratical cruise and perform acts of sedition on English soil. If so, fortunately Darlinghurst gaol was not given up, and it still provided ample accommodation for those who wanted to cool their heels and refrigerate their heads. (Received 10.10 a.m.) Sydney, March 31.

Mr Holman's . remarks regarding Ulster was the subject of a violent debate in the Assembly. The Premier promised to> consider a suggestion to apologise to Ulstermen for the slur.

THE KING AND QUEEN.

(Received 8.0 a.m.) Loudon, March 30

The King and Queen are not proceeding even to Windsor, if there is a likelihood that politics will demand His Majesty's presence in London.

THE NEW SECRETARY OF WAR. (Received 9.10 a.m.) London, March_3o. Colonel Seely lias resigned, and Mr 'Asquith is assuming his duties. General French and Ewart have not withdrawn their resignations.