The Home Crisis

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 258, 30 March 1914, Page 5

The Home Crisis

The Attitude of the Army Doctrine of Optional Obedience Appeals for a Prompt Settlement k-ir ' ■ By Cable—Press Association —Copyright

■MR. CHURCHILL'S DECLAMATION DEPLORED BY THE TIMES. London, March 27. The Times, in a leader on Mr. ChurLill's statement that the issue was now the Army versus Parliament, says "no more criminal speech has ever been delivered in or out of Parliament by a man koldirig a responsible executive position." ■When Colonel Seely arrived at the ]War Office, a gentleman wearing an Ulster badge met him on the steps and .exclaimed vehemently, "I should be •shamed of myself." Colonel Scely sniilpd genially and passed on. :) A BELATED ORDER. Mr. Asquith, in the House of Com-

SPEECH BY THE ATTORNEYGENERAL. WOULD STAND NO NONSENSE FROM THE ARMY. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. London, March 28. Sir John Simon, Attorney-General, speaking at Blackburn, emphatically denied that there was a Ministerial plot to attack Ulster. He had been present at every Cabinet and Cabinet committee which had discussed the precautionary arrangements. It was a great misfortune that the officers in Ireland had e\n asked hypothetical questions. Sooner than admit the oflicers' claim to pick and choose between the laws they should support he was willing to face resignations without number. The one living problem of our time was a better dcmocratisation of the Army.

mous, stated that he. was awaiting a :final reply from Field-Marshal French General Ewart. fie justified their -Signing General Cough's memorandum, because they believed they were acting >i>a the Cabinet's decision. IWith a view to obviating the recur: fence of misunderstanding, tlw Army Council had issued a new army Oi'tter irhicli provides that no officer or soldier \n future shall be questioned as to the •attitude lie will adopt on hypothetical 'Contingencies. He is also forbidden to **sk assurances. His duty is to obey ilawfril commands and safeguard lives «»nd property in the event of a disturbance of the peace. WILL PARLIAMENT DISSOLVE? PROTRACTED CABINET MEETING. London, March 27. 'The Cabinet was sitting all day and "there were rumors of a dissolution. ilVlien the House met the Cabinet was still sitting. Mr. GtiUaml. on behalf of Mr. Asquith, promised a statement late in the aftermoon. Mr. Bonar Law said Mr. Asquith had promw-ed a statement last night, then Baferred it till noon. He wished to move the adjournment to enable the Corernnifnt to make up their minds. The Speaker ruled that a- it was a private members' day, the House was unable to adjourn. Mr. Bonar Law regretted that the rules prevented dealing with what was nothing less than a public scandal. The Radical newspapers are still dcif> manding Colonel Seely's retirement. Mr. Bonar Law said there seemed to be nothing in the new order which •w&i not already implied in the existing army regulation'. The issue of a new •rder was simply due to the incredible tolly of the Government. Colonel Seely »aid the Government would take the •pportunity of discussing the whole subject on Monday.

Mr. Illingivorth, Liberal member for Yorkshire, West Riding, speaking at Blackburn, sai'd.tbe Tories had raised an issue that is threatening the very | foundations of the po8j*lo: The incidents in the House of Commons surpassed in interest and importance anything in living memory, but the Tory party had welded coalition into the people's party, and the Army issue would be settled on the Liberal party's own lines, in their own way, and in their own time. Some of the officers, with the full connivance of the Tories, had started the doctrine of optional obedience, namely, to support the civil authorities in protecting life and property under the Tory Government, but if asked to perform similar duty under the Liberals they would resign. 'That," be said, "is an insult tlmt we in due time are prepared to meet."

AX INFLAMMATORY ARTICLE. "IF ULSTER STANDS TO ARMS." Received 20, 5.5 p.m. London, March 2S. Mr. Robert lilatchl'ord, in the Clarion, ridicules the Government. They evidently thought that if they blew loud enough, and marched a few battalion* up bill and down again, the I'lstermeii would lay down their arms and consent to be devoured to make a Liberal hokday. "If IMsier stands to arms, she will win. The British public will not allow war with Ulster, and Mr. Asquilh knows it." Mr. .1. 11. Thomas (Labor), speaking at Derby, said there could be no better issue for a general election than whether Parliament would govern or the Army, encouraged and fostered through aristocratic circle*.

" GROSSEST INSULT TO THE WHOLE ARMY." THEIR ORKDIKNCE HE YON'D QUESTION. RESIGNATIONS WILL PROBABLY RE WITHDRAWN. Received i'.\, s..'ip.m. ! London. March 2S.

POSSIBLE RIOTS IN ULSTER. FURTHER POLICE PROTECTION ASKED FOR. London, March 2,7. ' Ulster Lilierals telegraphed to inc. Premier that there was insufficient protection against possible riots. PROMPT TERMINATION NECESSARY IN THE NATIONALIST INTEREST. I Received 28, 5.5 p.m. • ' London, March '27. The Times, in a leader, discussing the Jnny'- attitude, says: "Not for the sake of Ulster or the parly, but for the sake Of the King and the Empire, we trust there will be a swift termination of the Cfisis which, if it continue much longer, must seriously a fleet the moral and traditional Aloofness Jrom politics of both tke great fighting services.' '

Captain Morrison Hell, speaking after Mr. Ronar Law, strongly protested that tile new order was the grossest insult lo the whole Army. There was never any doubt as to oliicers and men obeying their orders. Field-Marshal French had stultified his position by signing the new order. The speaker concluded: "Had not Colonel Seely done his besl lo spoil the discipline of the whole Army by going to the officers and. through General Sir A. 11. Paget asking what their views were, this ipu'stion would never have arisen." (Opposition cheers). Mr. I'eto. at Kingston, said (lie cry of "the Army against the people" was the despairing cry of a discredited party, ready to wreck the nation in a desperate gamble to save themselves. The Times says that, if the opening clause of the new Army order is a confession that the Government wrongly sought such an assurance, we welcome it. Rut the measure of (heir sincerityis the degree to which they restrain theinsolvc- and their vindictive followers in making speeches. The way is cleared for Parliament to resume the consideration of the purely political i-

' - ••Finirnxi: BOBS." -\vnrr,i) retciix, iits honors to HIS KlXfi. . POP, THE SAKF. OF THE ARMY. Tillies ami Sydney Sun Services. Received 2S, 5.10 p.m. London, March 27. • Field-Marshal Karl Roberts took extreme steps to mark bis objection to troops bciii" compelled to scrVc against Ulster. When be learned of the Ministry's plan, be wrote a letter to the Kin?, si;, in.:; thai, "really as be prized tbc honors and orders bestowed upon bim by bis Sovereign, be would be compelled, if tbe Army occupied Ulster, to retmi tbem to tbe Kin?, together with liis Field-Marshal's baton.

It is -rally assumed tbat FieldMarshal l-'reueb and General levari will withdraw their resignations. Tbe Daily Mail reports that Oeneral Couel. was summoned to tbe War nrfiee, Cabinet seel.iiij; lo obtain a free surrender of tbe pb-d-e lie bold-, and thus enable Field-Marshal French and U-ucral Ewart to remain and so extricate tbe Cabinet from its Woist dilli.-tlltie-. OPIN'InNS IN TIIK I.OiHIIFS. COXTKUVFIiSY HAS CONE EAR KAorc.u. Received 20, j.'> p.m. London, March 2S. A lobbyist report says tbat some regarded Major Morrison-Hell's speecb as

a warning to the .House tlial I lie controversy on the military personnel side had gone far enough. The heat opinion on both sides is that after the ! Premier's unfounded and malicious attacks on the Army, pernicious speeches like Mr. Illingworth's will immediatory undo any attempt at peace-making.

THE NEW ARMY ORDER. NO CENSURE ON PAST ACTS. OPERATION'S IX ULSTER DENIED. Received 2ft, 5.5 p.m. London, March 28. The consensus of moderate Liberals' opinions is that the Government's latest decisions are intended to place in their right perspective the questions of discipline raised by the more advanced Mi»Uterialst sections, and that it also desires to see the whole incident speedily closed.

The Chronicle says the two words, "in future," appear in the Army order for the purpose of preventing its opening articles being construed as censure on past acts, whether those of General Cough, General Sir A. 11. Paget, Colonel Seely or the Army Council. Mr. Asquith, in the House of Commons, emphasised that Field-Marshal French and General Ewart desired to resign not because they differed from the Government, but because they initialled the memorandum. - The Government would regard their resignations as a serious misfortune to .the Army and to the State. (Cheers). He concluded by declaring that it was altogether untrue that (he Government or any member of the Government had ever contemplated active operations of an aggressive character in Ulster, or any operations imposing on the Army a duty not amply ered by the terms of this order,

The Morning Post gflvg that fieldMarshal French and General EwaTt must consider whether Mr. Asquith's closing words repudiated the assurance of the memorandum concerning the crushing of political opposition.

LIBERAL CONGRATULATIONS. Received 20, 5.5 p.m. London, March 28. Many Liberal associations in the provinces passed resolutions congratulating Mr. Asquith on his firmness, and supporting the Government's cll'orts in residing encroachments on the people's sovereign liberty's; also protesting again*! any further concessions t<> l'lster. (Jeneral Cough, from The Curragh, and Sir Edward Carson uuexpecljdly arrived in London.

ARE THESE FACTS? EXTENSIVE MILITARY I'REI'AIiATIONS IN IRELAND. Received 2!l. .">.."> p.m. London, March 2S. The Dublin Evening Mail writes: "It now appears in connection with the swamping of Ulster that eighteen batteries nf fidd artillery and two of horse were ordered to be in readiness to go north. Thirty tons of ammunition were ordered from Dublin for the garrisons at Newbridge and Kildare." Letters from Irish officers show that the King's name was used freely during the questionings of infantry nll'iccr*. They were informed it was the Kinu's personal desire that of the two alternatives put before them by the (lovernmen'. they should fight Ulster rather than resign. Certain generals admit that they used the King's name, and explain that it is the custom to speak of the King as the head of the Army, and lo ih« hi< name in convening instructions.

SIR KI3WARI) (ARS-ON INTERVIEWED. SUGGESTED AMENDMENT OF T'-IK PARLIAMENT ACT. Received "it, 12.-1-") a.m. London. March 2fl. Sir l-jlw.-il'd Carson, in iin interview, dc.-crilicd Hie new Army older as a farce, for it merely repeals thaf contained in General Cough's guarantee. Tli.' Oliserver suggests Unit the House of Commons and tlie Peers should cooperate lo amend Hie Parliament. Act, extendi]!;.; the nnmlier of serious over which Hills may he spread. This would enable the Irish and Welsh Hills to l.'e snlnnitied lo a genera) election and pro ceded with by the new Parliament at Hie siage where they had been Suspended.