KITCHENER AND CARSON.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 180, 8 January 1915, Page 2

KITCHENER AND CARSON.

A SENSATIONAL STORY. The Australian Worker prints an item which would be rather interesting if it did not wear such a decidedly improbable look. The (Australian ipaper had, presumably, some authority for its statements, and we reproduta its account of the incident for what it is worth:—"An interesting jtem of news which, strange to say, did not find a place amongst the war cables published in_the great Australian dailies, and which explains why Ireland has been given a wide berth by Anti-Home Ruler Sir 'E. Carson, since the outbreak of hostilities in Europe. Immediately fol lowing on his appointment to the Army Council, Kitchener, as Director of Martial Law, requested that certain prominent public men, Carson amongst them, should be called before the Council, with a view to inducing them to follow a certain line of action. Of those invited , to attend before the Council on a specii fled day Carson was the only one who had the temerity to ignore the invitaJ tion, with the consequence that when be arrived at his office the following lnoraing he found an armed guard at the door waiting to conduct him before Great Britain's "War Lord. The business attitude of his compulsory escort induced Carson to promptly reconsider his determination not to attend before the Anny Council, and in a few minutes lie was ushered into the presence of KitI cliener and the other inombers of the Council.

' "Kitchener, who is a man of few words, brusquely informed Carson that the Council had arrived at the conclusion that it would be in the best interests of the Empire if he (Carson) would refrain from visiting Ireland during the continuance of the war in Eu- ■ rope, and invited him to give the Council an undertaking to that effect. Carson treated as preposterous the idea that I he, Sir Edward Carson, should be forbidden to visit Ireland, and told Kitchener that, Army Council or no Army Council, it was his intention to visit Ireland during the following week, in order to receive the freedom of the city of Belfact, which the grateful burghers had decided to confer on him. Kitchener remined him that he, Kitchener, was sole director of martial law in Great Britain, and asked Carson if he was aware of the penalty he would incui if he attempted to visit Ireland in defiance of the Army Council's order, Carson inquired the nature of the penalty, and was told that if he attempted (jto visit Ireland, he would be instantly shoi. Then Carson played his trump card. Laughing satirically, lie told Kitchener that if he searched the Army, he would not find a squad that would shoot him, Carson. But the laugh died away in his throat as Kitchener rose, and towering over him, said in even tones: "Then if I cannot get a ride squad to shoot you, move one foot towards Ireland, and, by God, I'll shoot you myself." Carson has not yet received the freedom of the City of Belfast, nor has lie made any attempt to visit Ireland since, his memorable interview with Kitchener."