Dire Calamity

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 24, 18 June 1914, Page 5

Dire Calamity

LORD LANSDOWNE OX THE HUSH

SITUATION.

DEBATE IN THE HOUSE. OF LORDS.

By Cable—Press Association—Copyright

London, June 16.

In the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil moved the adjournment of the House to call attention to the grave danger through, the volunteer movements in Ireland and the failure of the Government to deal therewith. In the House of Lords Lord Lansdowne, in moving a vote of censure, said the existence of the Ulster and Nationalist volunteers was proof of the Government's mismanagement and Incompetence. The Government was doing nothing to avert a dire calamity. The amending Bill ought to have been produced in the House of Commons long ago. Secret conversations were not likely, to have a favorable result.

Lord Crewe said if Lord Lansdowne would not iave private conversations then they must discuss the position in Parliament. He agreed that if the House of Lords amended the amending Bill it vould not mean that they concurred in the principle of Home. Rule. If the only road to a settlement was the exclusion of Ulster it would be wise to

proceed by that road. There would -be no difficulty in deferring the second reading of the Home Rule Bill if Lord Lansdowne desired.

READY TO FIGHT ANYBODY. 1 i London, June 16. Mr. Birrell, in reply to a question, said that the Nationalist volunteers had enormously increased the seriousness of the situation. The volunteers were ready to fight anybody, and were anxious to secure Home Rule in its present form and maintain it afterwards. He asKed jwhat had become of the safeguards in [the BillT

Numerous meetings have endorsed Mr. Redmond's claim to control the Nationalist volunteers. An ominous feature is the growing bitterness against the.Ulster volunteers.

THE AMENDING BILL. WILL BE FURTHER AMENDED. Received 17, 10 p.m. London, June 17. The Nationalist Volunteers' Committee has accepted Mr. Redmond's suggestion that the Nationalist Party should •nominate twenty-five of its supporters, making thirty-five out of fifty on the executive who support Mr. Redmond. It is expected that the House of Lords will amend the Home Rule Amending Bill with a view of providing for the exclusion of aU Ulster for an unlimited period, and the withdrawal of the Post Office and Customs from Irish control. The Times states that Mr. Redmond is not allowed to go beyond Mr. Asqftith's offer of March 9, because it will inevitably lead to his overthrow by the 1 physical force movement. This fact explains the Government's inability to renew the conversations, and also Lord | Lansdowne's doubt of the efficacy of any j meeting with negotiators who would not agree to negotiate.

DKILLIXG IS NOT ILLEGAL. GOVERNMENT WORSTED IN DEBATE BUT MOTION OF CENSURE LOST.

Received 17, 11.40 p.m. London, June 17,

In the House oi Commons, Mr. Birrcll said there was nothing illegal in drilling volunteers, provided that the permission of two magistrates was secured, as the Ulstermen and the Nationalists had done. Nor was the carriage of arms illegal, provided the person was licensed. The Government's present course exposed them to criticism and ridicule, but he believed it was the wisest and most prudent.

Mr. Bonar Law declared that the Government's policy of drifting had created a situation of anarchy. The Government in any case ought to make their plan clear.

Lord Robert Cecil's motion was defeated by 288 to 223. During the debate in the House of Lords, Lord Crewe claimed that the Government had not been idle during the, recess. Mr. Asquith had been in communication with Sir Edward Carson. The statement caused surprise, as Lord Lausdowne had previously denied that there had been any communication

Mr. llonar Law made a similar denial causing Mr. Asquith to say that the communications between Sir Edward Carson and himself had been of a private character, and had nothing to do with the amending Bill.

Sir Edward Carson later stated that the only communication he had had with Mr. Asquith was to supply him with a ma]> showing the position of the different religious parties in Ulster, lie declared that Lord Crewe's suggestion was absolutely false.