The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914. THE HOME CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 255, 26 March 1914, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1914. THE HOME CRISIS.

The watersiders in Wellington and Auckland recently attempted to usurp authority and dictate to the rest of the community what it should and should not do. The Government carefully gathered its forces and then asserted its authority with telling effect. Th-2 syndicalists of South Africa attempted to take charge of the country's affairs. The Government mobilised its rural forces, took charge of things, and deportod tho ringleaders. There is room in no civilised country for two controlling authorities—two Governments. There can be only one at a time, but this fundamental principle of civilisation does not appear to be understood by the leaders of the Unionist Party and the Ulster movement, who, having exhausted, without success, every constitutional means in their efforts to prevent Ireland governing itself, now openly advocate opposing by brute force the laws of the country. They are simply seeking to usurp the powers of the Government, and to have their way, right or wrong, at tho same time fanning into flame the inflammable elements that for some time past have been assiduously training in Ulster. Disloyalty and sedition could hardly go much further. The amazing thing is that the Government is submitting so quietly to it all. True, the situation is an extremely critical ones,.and the Government has to walk warily. It is no fault of the Unionists leaders that rebellion has not broken out ere this. The Government has met the Ulster faction more than half way. It has offered to give the Ulster counties the right to vote themselves out of the jurisdiction of the Irish Parliament, and now Mr. Asquith has shown his readiness to take a referendum on the vexed subject, providing the Opposition agrees to abide by the result. To this Sir Edward Carson is not favorable. He wants his own sweet way or nothing. It is a sheer waste of time and words for the Government to attempt to reason with him. lie denounces Ministers as a "Government of cowards," and challenges them to " try conclusions in Ulster." In my other country Sir Edward Carson would for much less than this have been put out of harm's way. This is the man who who complains of the "coercive" actions of the Government and professes horror at the idea of bloodshed! If blows are struck—which Heaven forbid —the responsibility will rest en the fanatical Ulster leader and his misguided associates like Mr. Bonar Law. The law must prevail, and if the Carsonites are so foolish as to offer armed resistance they must put up with the consciences. It is ridiculous to think that they can overawe the forces of the Crown or meet with anything but disaster, if unfortunately it comes to tho striking of blows.

THE FROG AND THE BULL. The report of Mr. Masscy's utterances at Greymouth relative to naval defence recalls to mind that very caustic fable of Aesop, "The Frog and the Bull." Readers of these droll but biting exposures of human foibles will remember that the frog: in question conceived the vain whim that he could so inflate his diminutive body that it would become as imposing in appearance *>s a bull, but he was merely a croaker and its silly atttempt at undue inflation merely ended in ridicule and disaster. New Zealand's Premier appears to have inflated himself, «o to speak, in order to overshadow John Bull, as represented by the First Lord of the Admiralty, the lit. Hon. Winston Churchill. The result will afford just as much amusement to the British Ministers as did the graver decision recorded by the Government of Tonga not to interfere with the FrancoGerman war. Speaking in the House of Commons on the 17th inst., .Mr. Churchill gave an exceptionally interesting and statesmanlike exposition of the Government's naval policy. British Cab-

inet Ministers are not in the habit of making, loose statements on important questions of the day. They are not addicted to bombastic utterances, but as a rule—and most assuredly in Mr. Churchill's ease—their education and training peculiarly fit them for the offices they hold. Neither is it customary for these statesmen to take a superficial or ill-informed view of matters of State. It was therefore with the whole resources of the British Government, and with the aid of the most accurate information available, together with the possession oi' unusually penetrating powers of observation and an inner knowledge of what is transpiring in foreign courts, that Mr. Churchill spoke on naval affairs. The statements that , chiefly concerned New Zealand were

those relating to the position in the Rustic. lie pointed out that the Japanese. Alliance secured the safety of Australia and New Zealand, also that the situation in the Pacific would be absolutely regulated by the position in European waters. He added that the Government had loyally co-operated in the development of the Australian fleet, and that the dominions would be encouraged in developing their naval power. Then Mr. Churchill made this most impressive statement: "While Japan is allied to Britain, and Britain possesses a naval [superiority over Japan, she will lie safe from attack from the great fleets of Europe. In no other way, in the years immediately before us, can Japan adequately protect herself." Those who

are not affected with the absurd prejudice against Japan must recognise the truth of the words quoted above. Later Mr. Churchill intimated that future developments of British policy in the Pad. lie and the Far East would undoubtedly Ih: further discussed by the dominions interested. But, what says Mr. Massoy?

"1 do not believe for one moment that tiie Anglo-Japanee Alliance has secured the safety of either Australia or New Zealand. I do not think so for one moment, and it is just as well for Mr. Churchill to know that." It is not a laughing matter, but it requires no great prescience and the gift of clairvoyance to conjure up the picture of the First Lord of the Admiralty on learning Mr. Massey's views expressed in such aptly chosen and courteous phraseology. Firstly, Mr. Massey does not believe, and then he does not think that Mr. .Churchill's statement is true. The marvel is that he did not use the word that is frequently applied to lack of veracity. How is it that Mr. Massey knows the true state of affairs so much better than Mr. Churchill? To quote Mr. Massey's words: "It is just as well for Mr. Churchill to know that." That should just about finish Mr. Churchill, who for ever more should hold his head in humiliation. The frog is inflated and the bull is reduced to insignificance! Poor old John Bull!