Home Rule Crisis

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 261, 2 April 1914, Page 5

Home Rule Crisis

Basis of Settlement Suggested

Parties Agree on Main Principle

"Anything Better Than Civil War."

By Telegraph—Press Association.

THE REAL TRIAL OF STRENGTH.

LORD CREWE'S EXPLANATIONS.

TELLS CABINET MEETING SECRETS,

HOUSE DIVIDES NEXT MONDAY.

MR. ASQUITH ON THE TRAIL.

Received 1, 10.5 p.m. London, April ]. In the House of Lords, Lord Lang, downe said it was not the Unionists who tampered with the Army, but the Government, who approached the officers with their hypothetical questions. Lord Crewe said that at a Cabinet meeting on March 16 a proposal by the military authorities to reinforce the small garrisons raised the question as to whether the movement might be regarded as provocative. The military opinion was that they thought it might, but those responsible for the maintenance of order thought otherwise. The latter were correct, because Ulster was not regarded as provocative. The Government rightly or wrongly abstained from interference with the Ulster volunteer movement, believing that it would destroy any hope of agreement, but no Government could neglect precautions or look tamely on when an unauthorised force might seize a part of the Kingdom and create an administration of its own. Mr. Asquith had now summoned General Paget to London to obtain a full account of what occurred. He concluded 1 by expressing lis belief in the possibility of a permanent settlement of the Irish question without anything that could be called surrender by the Government.

Received 1, 11.50 p.m. London, April 1.

The Home Rule division has been arranged, for Monday night. MR. ASQUITH AT THE WAS OFFICE. A PUBLIC-SPIRITED DECISION. LORD CURZON'S APPROBATION.

Received 1, 9.60 pjii.

London, April 1. In the House of Lords, Lord Curzon •aid that Mr. Asquith'a assumption of the War Office portfolio was publicspirited, and he hoped it would result in the dissipation of the mystery and intrigue there, and end a cowardly campaign against the Army. Lord Morley said that as Colonel Seely's second resignation was due to a desire that it should not appear that a Minister of the Crown had made a bargain, and as Colonel Seely had absolved him from being a party to complying with Brigadier-General Gough's request, lie was not justified in resigning. Lord Loreburn appealed for a compromise. He did not believe in the existence either of a military plot or a Government plot to provoke Ulster. Both sides had reached the conclusion to leave the settlement to a future Parliament, whether Ulster should remain in or out, but it was quite impossible to fetter shy future Parliament with a difference that threatened eivil war and * danger of a foreign war. THE DUTY OF THE ARMY. DEFINED AGAIN. * MUST UPHOLD THE AUTHORITY OF THE CROWN. HOPE OF A COMPROMISE. "ANYTHING BETTER THAN DISSOLUTION."

OPPOSITION LEADER IN A CORNER.

J Mr. Bonar Law, in the House of Comjmons, referring to the question to which he had nodded assent, explained j that he had intended to say that if the electorate supported the Government be and the Unionists would not be justified in encouraging Ulster's resistance. He added that whether or not the Government was justified in coercing Ulster was a matter for their own conscience. (During tho debate on March 19 Mr. Asquith asked if a referendum favored the Government, would it carry authority to the Government to coerce Ulster? Mr. Bonar Law nodded assent. Amidst loud Ministerial cheers, Mr. Bonar Law added that he wag willing to accept a referendum without plural venting)

A STRAIGHT-OUT DECLARATION.

Received 1, 9.45 p.m. London, April 1,

G'OVERSMEXT'S POLICY DEFINED

Sir Edward Grey, continuing, said that if a provisional Government were established in Ulater, or if a disturbance occurred before the Irish Parliament was inaugurated, the Army must uphold the authority of the Crown. If ever the Army, or a large section of the Army, took active sides between political parties, the country would be faced with a more serious and a graver question than had been in three centuries.

London, March 31

Sir J. Simon, Attorney-General, 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 know that Ministers had the fixed intention to use the forces of the Crown if necessary to prevent the usurpation of law by force.

Lord Hugh Cecil asked if the Government would definitely and precisely put forward a proposal in regard to the exclusion of Ulster by consent. It might be that both sides were agreed on the principle, but differed only as to the machinery. The Unionists were opposed, as ever, to Home Rule, but anything was better than dissolution by civil war. SIR EDWARD GREY AS LEADER OF THE HOUSE. USE OF FORCE XOT CONTEMPLATED Received 1, 9.20 p.m. London, April 1.

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

In the House of Lords Lord Ilaldane emphasised that any attempt to democratise the Army would be attended by formidable difficulties and take probably.fifteen years and enormous e» penditure, and then would not be equal to the present splendid service. THE COERCION OF ULSTER. j SIR E. GREY THINKS IT NUT POSSIBLE.

Sir lid ward Grey, speaking as the leadfe* of the House, said lie did not know Mliat the last word had absolutely been said by the Government, but beyond the hexennium was not prepared to go to the country. They must settle the question at the end of the hexennium. Tlicy would agree to any settlement that would not place the Bill on the Statute Book, force had not provided a solution in the past, and he looked on it with the gravest reluctance and almost despair of any solution of the Dieter problem by force. The embarkation on a policy of actual coercion to make Ulster submit to an authority whan it was determined to resist that

Mr. Long', in moving liie rejection of the Home Rule Bill, said the discussion \wis really a sham. The Premier's proposals were made for the purpose of securing a party advantage, not from a desire for a settlement. If the Govcrnment were willing to .sacrifice the fruits of the Parliament Act, which a general election would entail, let them introduce an amending Bill so as to extend the number of ses-ions over which Bills may be spread. Thi, would enable (lie Iris!, and Welsh Bills to he submitted to n general election and proceeded with by the new Parliament at the stage where they had been suspended.

force was a grave, serious, and ominous thing. He had never contemplated tne use of force until after an election, and could not conceive any Government emharking on such a policy without hrs* consulting the country.

Sir E. Grey said the coercion of 11ster could not arise before a general election. He did not tliiiifr it possible that any (government would coerce Ulster, but, if there were sporadic outbursts, force must be used. If an attempt were made to establish a provisional Government the Army must be called upon. The proposed conversa- | tion between the Government ana Opj position should be resumed 011 the basis of establishing a federal system for the : whole country before the eml of the six-year period.

ARMY OFFICERS TRY A BLUFF. London, March 31. There are rumors in the lobby that Mr. Asquith has received a message from Lord Hardinge that many officers in the Indian Army will resign unless the Government makes peace with the Army, instead of permitting Ministers to drive it to rebellion.

SOLUTION ON FEDERAL LINES FAVORED.

COMPLICATIONS FOR MR. ASQUITH. HOME RULERS AND SUFFRAGETTES. Received 1, 11.50 p , m , London, April 1. Sir Edward Grey's allusion to a federal solution is regarded in the lobbies as an improved prospect of settlement by consent. Unionist papers note the changed temperature indicated in the speech A meeting of fifty Unionist Commonc« favored a settlement on federal lines. It is understood that an amendment on the subject will be tabled in the debate on the second reading of the Ifome Kule Bill Bands of militant and non-militant suffragettes have invaded Mr. Asquith's constituency, preparatory to the election. MORE SPECULATIVE RUMORS. ARMS FOR IRELAND. Received 1, 11.30 p.m. Copehagen, April 1, There is much speculation regarding the sudden departure of the Norwegian steamer Fanny from Long-eland with 300 tons of rifles, transferred from a German lighter, their supposed destination being Ireland.

A RUMOR DENIED.

A LIBERAL RESOLUTION.

Received 1, 10.55 p.m.

Delhi, April 1. A communique denies the London ruImors of Lord Hardinge's message re Army resignations.

The National Liberal Club, Lord Lincolnshire presiding, carried a resolution saying that members viewed with indignation the unpatriotic attempts of the Tory Party to corrupt the Army and use it as an instrument for the defeat of Parliamentary Government. Mr. Asquith's name was loudly cheered, and the meeting gave enthusiastic cheers for the King.

MR. ASQUITH'S OPPONENT. London, March 31. Larkin will contest the East Fife seat The Conservative candidate (Colonel A. Sprot) is doubtful whether he will contest the seat. LORD MORLEY NOT TO RESIGN.

• Lortl Morley, in the House of Lords, announced that he had not resigned.' If Colonel Seely's first resignation hud been accepted his would have followed.

POLITICAL PARTY ZEAL

A MENACE TO TISE NATION.

London, March 31

Dean Ilenson, speaking at St. Paul's, said the nation was menaced by disintegration through the over-eager pursuit of partisan and sectional objects, and was threatened by the gravest publie disasters conceivable.

LORD ROBERTS AND THE ARMY

Times and Sydney Sun Services.

London, March 31. Lord Roberts, during the debate in he House of Lords, insisted passionate-

1\ that no man alive could seduce the Army into becoming the tool of any political party. AUSTRALIAN ULSTEIMEVS SUPPORT. Received 1, 8.10 p.m. Ferth, April 1. A cablegram has been despatched to Sir Edward Carson by a number of Ulster sympathisers, who propose form, ing an Ulster Association for Western Australia, as follows:--"Unionists guarantee. .€IO,OOO, and n.ore if required, to support you in resisting Home Rule; also prepared to send a contingent of volunteers. Sympathy with Ulster is increasing."