AMUNDSEN’S EXPEDITION.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 85, 1 April 1914, Page 5

AMUNDSEN’S EXPEDITION.

QUESTION OF MONETARY SUPPORT. [jdjt, Electric Telegraph—Copyright] * Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received 8 a.in.) Christiania, March 30. Captain Amundsen is depending upon a further Government grant. He requires £40,000, and will give up the expedition unless he is supported.

'speech. Ministers insinuated that the jblamo rested with General Paget, but 'did not dare to say it. General Paget | had said nothing but perhaps the Government was concealing something. The motion was carried by 329 to 251, and the Bill passed the House of Lords in all its stages. MR ASQUITH’S RETIREMENT. • London, March 31. The House of Commons was startled by Mr Asquith’s dramatic decision to retire. The Premier indicated that he would hold his position temporarily. Mr Bonar Law, leader of the Opposition, referred to the impropriety of Mr Asquith’s absence during the llome Rule debate, but Mr Asquith replied that he would bo close at hand, and in touch with his colleagues, THE DEFENCE FUND.A , :,;v. ._ ,March 31. The Union Defence Fund has reached'£lol,ooo. . \ . ■ \ A number of Maxims packed in ' twenty tea-chests were landed at Belfast; but the authorities’ search for them has proved futile. . { CANADIAN COMPLICATIONS. Ottawa, March 31. Orangemen throughout Canada are adopting ; resolutions pledging them- ! selves to» oppose any grant from the IDominion Government to aid the British. Navy until Home Rule has been submitted to the British electors. ' ' "• * - ; ' ■( aril v BONAR LAW’S EXPLANATION. .; i * AVOIDANCE OF CIVIL WAR. RUMORS FROM INDIA. S.clo a.m.) London, March 31 i Mr Law, in the Commons, referring tp the question that if a referendum- favored the Government ■would ip ( carry authority to the Government to coerce Ulster, and to which he'nodded assent, and explained that , he intended to say that if the electorates supported the Government, he and the Unionists would not he 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 hot go to avoid civil war, but they thought it right and necessary to let the Ulster volunteers know it was the Ministers’ fixed intention to use the forces of the Crown, if necessary, to prevent usurpation of the law by force.

Mr Bin-oil, replying to a question, stated that prior to the movement of troops and the orders despatched to the naval squadron in Ireland, said no information had been received regarding the prevalence of disorder in Ulster necessitating such precautions, nor regarding the request from the civil authorities for assistance.

Lord Haldane' emphasised the fact that any attempt to demonstrate the army would be attended by formidable difficulties. It would take probably fifteen years, and there would be enormous expenditure, and then it would not be equal to the present splendid service.

There are rumors 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 make peace with the Army instead of permitting Ministers to drive it to rebellion. "THE NATION MENACED.” , ,r> rr '■ . Vy [By Electric Telegraph—Copyright'' Times and Sydney Sun Services. (Received S a.m.) London, March 30. Dean Henson, speaking at St. Paul’s, said the Nation was menaced by disintegration through the overeager pursuit of partisan and sectional objects, and was threatened by the gravest public disasters conceivable. "BOBS" ON THE ARMY. (Received 8 a.m.) London, March 31. Lord Roberts, during the debate in the House 'of Lords, insisted passionately that no man alive could seduce the Army into becoming the tool of any political party.