Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-29
HOME RULE CRISIS
NEARING SOLUTION
Parliamentary Battle Pending
May Result in General
Elections.
LABOR PARTY ALLIANCE
WITH RADICAL LIBERALS
"Aristocrats Against People Would
Be Campaign Battle Cry-Army
Order Issued by Asquith.

| LONDON. March 2S--What has been
| pronounced the greatest crisis for
craftsmanship in 800 years is simmer
ing over Sunday. Both houses of par
Lament will train their heaviest guns
| upon the whole complicated affair on
| Monday
! Passions are running high. and coun-
try houses. where politicians customarily
spend the week ends, are deserted.
Party leaders are comforting in Lon
don Urgent summonses have been sent
to all members to attend.
If the outcome of the crisis is to be
a general election in the near future the
radical wing of the liberal party will
form a close alliance with the labor
party, the coalition crystallizing its plat
form into the battle cry. ''he aristocrats
against the people Whatever may be
| the merits of their campaign, it seems to
| hold possibilities of vote-getting which
the conservatives shy at.
New Army Order Issued.
The army order which Premier AS
quth announced today is generally
consider,l to have been intended as a
sort of charter on which Field Marshal
French and Gen. Ewart might be in
duced to remain in their positions. Col.
Seelys tenure in the office of the war
ministry seems destined to be of short
continuance.
The Westminster Gazette and the
Daily Chronicle. foremost among the
liberal papers, are saying tnat Col.
Seely must relinquish his portfolio. The
name of John Burns is most discussed
as his probable successor.
That a democratic government could
be carried to such lengths as to give
supervision of the army into the hands
the limelight first as a labor agitator
would have been unthinkable a decade
ago. Yet the recognition of the SOL
dier as on the same plane with the
officers. in the charter rights and duties
which the government proclaimed to-
day. is a long step toward the same
leveling of the classes
Panama Debate Ignored.
The Panama debate at Washington,
which ordinarily would have been read
here with equal interest to that which
it incites in the United States, is pass
ing almost unnoticed in the excitement
over the crisis. Sunragettes are being
wholly ignored.
The kings actions and attitude dur
ing the crisis are gradually becoming
known. The attacks OF the radicals and
laborites on the king for his alleged
interference in politics have subsidized.
Unionists are criticising him, but
quietly among themselves. Unionists
have the most reason to complain OF
the kings policy, as would appear from
happenings at Buckingham during the
frequent conferences of the king with
cabinet ministers and army officers.
King in Hands of Ministry.
The king followed his ministers advice
from the beginning of the home rule con-
troversy While maintaining impartiality,
apparently he had a personal leaning to-
ward home rule.
The king and the members of his court
were outspoken in their condemnation of
Sir Edward Carson in organizing the Ul-
ster volunteer army. and resented his act
in reviewing the volunteers as though
they were regular military body, and
in assuming prerogatives. by reason of
which the liberals named him King Car
SON
Such an offense. as Gen. Sir Robert
Baden-Powell discovered when he placed
his portrait on postage stamps during the
siege of Mafeking, is an objectionable sin
in the eyes of the court
While Premier Asquith and Col. Seely
were closeted with the king recently, Mai.
Gen. Sir William r. Robertson, director
of military training at the war Office, ac-
companied by colleague, visited the pal
ace, according to reliable information. and
asked to be admitted to the conference
on urgent business. The request was
granted The officers announced that they
and a majority of the staff officers would
resign Immediately unless the government
made its peace with the Curragh officers.
Premier Asquth's conciliatory state
ment TO the Times. the first interview
which the premier has granted in Office,
was the result of the impression that this
ultimatum had been delivered.