The Irish Crisis

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 54, 24 July 1914, Page 5

The Irish Crisis

CONFERENCE ADIiU KNEB. A BREAKDOWN 1 KAREI). QUESTIONS IN PARLIAMENT, i By Cable.—Press Association. —Copyright London. July 22. The conference has been adjourned till Jo-morrow. When MesM-s Redmond and Dillon Were passing the Wellington Barracks, 4l number of the Irish Gurads enthusiastically cheered them. Report* we current in the lobbv that the conference has not made any progress, and a breakdown is feared. In the House of Commons, 'TSr A. Ponsonby asked whether the King's Speech was drawn up and- published on Jhe advice of Ministers, in accordance With custom and precedent. Mr Asquith replied that the speech ■Was sent to him in the ordinary way day beTore, and he took the whole responsibility. The King left the conference to determine whether it should i hv published. The conference unanimously favored its publication. Lord Robert Cecil asked if the eonferfcnee had been summoned upon the Cabinet's advice. i.\lr Asquith replied that the King throughout followed the strictest constitutional procedure and had taken no Step except in consultation with and npoii the. advice of Ministers. A meeting of Nationalists at Enniskillen carried a resolution that Fermanagh would never agree to any sort of exclusion.

THE VOLUNTEER FORCES IN IRELAND. RIFLES AND BAYONETS ISSUED. Received 23, 10 p.m. London, July 23. The conference at Omagali of Nationalises of Tyrone, Fermanagh and Derry City carried a resolution that at the risk of their lives they would never Consent to a separated Irish nation. Two thousand Ulster volunteers of jthe mid-Tyrone battalion paraded and jreceived rifles and bayonets. A company of Ulster volunteers was marching near Gleshey, at Tyrone, when three shots were fired over their heads Crom the vicinity of a laborer's cottage.

IRISH NATIONALIST PRESS. WELCOMES THE KINGS SPEECH. ••MOST DISCREDITABLE EPISODE." THE ARMY COUNCIL CAUSES ALARM. Received 23, 10 p.m. ■* London, July 23. Mr. J. M. Hogge. on the motion for adjournment, desired to know whether the conference was held conditionally, or unconditionally. It should have been dissociated from the Palace and held in Parliament House instead. Also, it should have been made clear that the Conference had not superseded Parliament.

Sir J. A. Simon, in the absence of the Premier, promised to ask Mr. Asquith to .lea! with Mr. Hoggc's suggestions. Cabinet sat last night, also conferences between the party leaders and the Speaker. It is believed they considered the exclusion of six counties. Must of the Irish Nationalist newspapers welcome the sincerity of the King's speech. FrNinan'» Journal asserts that it exhibit* no bias against the Nationalist aspirations, but. on the contrary, de|lires a peaceful settlement. Mr. A. J. Kettle, a hading figure in Parnell's day. in a letter to Freeman's Journal, says he has given up hope of getting a real Honie Rule settlement from the Liberal Party. Ireland is nearly jjone for the present with the party of Words, and must soon hook on to a partv of works—the Tories. Tlie Daily Telegraph's Parliamentary Correspondent says Mr. Asquitb's explicit Statement destroyed the flimsy foundations whereon the legend was based that the Kind's speech betrayed party bias. The Times says Mr. As.niiih crushed rith swift directness the extraordinary attacks on the King by certain of bis fcwn followers and the entire Liberal Press. The Times hopes that this will also end one of the most discreditable episodes in the history of Radicalism. The Morning Post has reason to believe that one of the causes leading to tiie conference was that the Army Council advised that in the event of Civil war it would be necessary to Strengthen the forces in Egypt, India Sl\d some home stations. GRAVER RISKS INDICATED. WESTMINSTER GAZETTES WARXECG. Times and Sydney Sun Services. Received 22." 5.15 p.m. London. July 22. The Westminster Gazette says that what has happened this week should warn all parties that faiiure may land ns'not only in Irish difficulties but in grave constitutional difficulties, affecting the whole Kingdom. The responsible, iober minded members of the conference may be expected especially to bear in mind the supreme importance of not exposing tbe King to a public controversy, and therefore making any reasonable sacrifice to reach a settlement. MR. ASQITTH'S AGGRESSIVE LOYALTY. Received 23. 10.30 p.m. London. July 23. The Chronicle says that Mr. Asquith accepted tbe responsibility with unregerved and almost aggressive loyalty. wbich»does him more credit because it Will be used to discredit him and his party. The episode illustrates tlie difficulty- the King has in entei ini the political arena. In the present case the fault was le-s in the speech than in its publication. 'Messrs A-.|iuth and Lloyd George lacked vigilance and judgment in agreeing to its puMcnti'in.