The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-03-24
CABINET ASSAILED
FOR FORCING ULSTER CRISIS
Continued from First Page.

and mere Impressed with the Govern.
ment's peace message to Ulster"
The Premier's speech.
Premier Asauith In his speech In the
House repeated his assurances contained
In an interview In the Times yesterday
that the movement OF troops In Ulster
was only "A precautionary measure. As a
result of the statement by the Premier tho
feeling throughout the United Kingdom 10
much easier. although a letter written by
Lieut.. Gen. Sir Arthur Paget. commanding
the troops In Ireland. was read in the
House Of Commons by Andrew Bonar
Law. leader Of the Opposition. in which
Gen. Paget said that active operations
were to begin against Ulster and that 1t
vas expected the country would be ablazc
by Saturday.
The Opposition leaders contend that the
present disaffection In the army indicates
that that branch OF the service cannot be
counted on II more serious developments
come In Ulster and that the Government
has placed itself in a ridiculous position
from which 1t can retire only By retiring
from Office. They say that the incidents
OF the past few days spell the collapse Of
the home rule project and express the be-
lief that the present Government will soon
retire voluntarily.
Col. J. L. b. Seely. Secretary OF State
for War. delivered a very brief and some
what vague communication to the House
OF Commons yesterday afternoon on the
designations OF army officers. He said that
some officers had informed Gen Paget
that they could not serve in certain even
Qualities. Their action. he said. was the
result Of a Misunderstanding. They had
been ordered to rejoin their regiments. Col
Seely gave the same explanation as that
given by Premier Asquith for the moving
OF the troops-that II was intended ony
to protect the Governments arms and
ammunition stored In Ulster.
Following Col. Se.ly's statement the
Premier and the leader OF the Opposition
agreed on a motion for adjournment In
order to discuss the situation.
Bonar Laws Criticiam.
Borar Law characterized tn. Govern
ment's procedure as "paltering" with the
House of Commons. He said that the
danger OF the armys being destroyed BY
disaffection had come upon the Govern.
fnent most unexpectedly.
He said that he had proof that resigna-
lions OF officers had occurred In other
than cavalry regiments. and said that
the officers had been told that II they
would not fight against the Ulstermen
they would be dismissed from the service
He said that the whole movement OF
troops was foolish since there was no
change In the situation In Ulster and no
threat OF any outbreak.
In the FACET letter read by Mr. Law
the commander OF the forces said that he
was In close communication with the
War ONCE and that he had received in
structions to notify the officers under him
that those domiciled In Ulster would b,
allowed 10 disappear" and that they
afterward would be ra!nstated. provided
they would give their word of honor not
to fight for Ulster. The instructions as
repeated In the letter were that other
officers who from conscientious or other
scruples were not prepared 10 undertake
active operations against Ulster must re-
sign or be dismissed. and that officers
avoiding service in Ulster on false plea
OF domicile there would be tried by court
martial.
Mr.. Law instanced the letter to indicate
that In spite ~ the later reassur!ng state
ment from Premier Asquith 1t was the
UNDER .anding OF Gen. Paget that he was
pr, ssding to conquer Ulster
The Opposition" Mr.. Law continued.
always has held the view that the co.
ercion OF Ulster Is al operation no Govern
nlent has the right to ask the army 10
undertake, and In our view an officer who
refuses Is only fulfilling his duty.
1T will be d!a!cu!. for the Priiae Min
lister 10 convince the House that. with
or without his knowledge. some of his
colleagues did not make these movements
OF troops as part OF concerted plan to
provoke or intimldate Ulster. The Gov
eminent Is attempting tn coerce portion
OF the United Kingdom without the au-
thority OF the electorate
Bonar Law asked " Gen. Hubert Cough.
commander OF the Third Cavalry Brigade
at the Curragh. has been reinstated. and
II SO on what terms. and urged that
Officers refusing to take UP arms against
Ulster should be allowed to resign so
that they would not lose their pensions.
He added that nothing could save the
army now except definite declaration
by the Government that officers OF army
and navy would not be compelled to en-
gage In civil war against their wish.
The Timcs claims to have verified Bonar
Laws version OF Lieut.. Gen. Paget's
statements to the effect that Ulster is
ablaze." &c. and vouches for It's abso-
Lutte accuracy.
There are uncomfortable reports that
Gem Paget. who married Mary stevens OF
New York, will refuse to accept the posi-
ton of scapegoat and that he may pos
sibly resign.
Premier Asauith's Reply.
Premier Asquith was cheered when he
rose to reply. He said II was necessary
that the country should know at once
what the issue was. and that the duties
OF the army In relation to the civil power
were very simple and had never been
contested
Amy officer or private who refuses
to obey an order Ii liable to dismissal" he
said. Hc added that the officers were in
formed as long ago rs las: December that
their services might be needed and that
those who were domicilcd In Ulster might
be excused. This. he said. would have been
the last step to be considered II there
had been any intention OF taking an az
gresslve move against the province. The
movement OF troops was now concluded.
he said.
Premier Asquith continued that Gen.
Paget had denied that he had used the
words ascribcd to him. that the recent
movement of troops was the first step In
series OF operations to conquer Ulster, and
that Gen. FACET never had received my
a,