The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-03-25
Officers Are Given Written Guar
antee That Government Will
Not Resort to Force
SECRETARY OF WAR RESIGNS
Resignation, However, Is Not Ac.
cepted by Asquith; Excite
ment in Commons


London, March 25.-Colonel Seeiey,
war secretary, has resigned from the
cabinet.
Seeley's resignation followed quickly
after the publication Of the White pa
per giving the details of the crisis IN
the British army, whose officers re-
fused to participate in active opera
tions AGAINST Ulster.
In his valcdictOry address TO the
House of Commons. Seeley denied that
King George had taken any initiative
Of any kind in the army crisis.
The correspondence between Seeley
and the officers in Ireland had
astounded the country, and in the
opinion Of seasoned politicians it de-
manded one of two things-the cash
iering Of Seeley, or the resignation or
the entire cabinet, The first course
was decided on at a protracted cabinet
council this morning.
Later in the Commons, Premier AS
auith made it clear that the instruc-
lions given to General Paget, before
his interview with the officers under
him. had emanated directly from the
war Office and were not submitted 10
the prime minister by the secretary OF
war.
"The blame rests on me alone said
Seeley explaining To the Commons ms
resignation.
In reply to General Cough, printed
in the White paper, Sceley said ne 'hN
mistake added two paragraphs to the
document considered and approved 10y
a cabinet meeting at which he was no'
present" He absolvcd Field Marshal
French and General Pagct of all
blame.
Premier Asquith refused to accept
the resignation of Seeley After sym
pathetic reception by the House ot
Commons of the secretary of wars eX'
PLANTATION Of his action regarding arIl'
officers in Ireland. the premier decided
not To sacrifice his lieutenant.
Not to Crush Ulster.
Documents made public today dis
close officially the fact that the BRIT
;sh povernmen, gave army officers II
Ireland a written guarantee that th'
army would not be used 20 crush us
ter's political opposition to the hohi'
rule. The correspondence, however
points out that the government re-
tairs the right To use the army Il
maintain law and order.
The orders issued by the war oihc'
in resnect to the duties of the arm!
i'm ireland, chiefly in connection VIII
the protection of government STORES
arms aud ammunition, are given very
completely. The correspondence no"
,v,r omits the communication mad'
by General Paget to the oihcers
Curraah camp. which led to their reg
istrations and which the government
argues was the result of misunoe'
tsandins.'
That the version of Pagets commu
rication. read by Andrew Bonar La"
leader of the opposition. III the 'o"'
mons Monday, was substantially COT
rect, seems clearly indicated Law
on that occasion, read letter III wiz
General Paget stated that ac'iNe W
erations we're TO begin against uls'e
and IL was expected the country wou'
he ablaze by Saturday the iriS
commander-i in chief wrote that ne wa
in close communication with the wa
Office. and had received instruction
from headquarters tn notify ms CIV
GERS that those of them domio''e"
1uster would he allowed to oisapPea
and afterward be re-instateu' l"e
must. however, give their worn
nonor not to fight for Ulster
In published correspondence brls
General Cough underlines phras'
such as active operations "neii "''
ing for further information, ana 1t al
pears evident he was quoting remar'
of General Paget.
War Secretary Reassured o"'ee'''
Correspondence between tne "a' "
flee and army officers in Ireland "n''
led TO the recent wholesale res's"
,ions and re-instatemcnts. was ha'
public in the shape OF a "whi'e 'e'''
or office communication to pari'''"e'
II can be seen from this correspoh'
ence that the war Office was ii'io, 'H'
early I'm December of The poss'p,'''S
designations of officers in case the =
ster situation came to eris's'
retary of War seeley' in an ''''e w
view with the general officers III 'o,,
mand. explained to them that an ,, 81
Ger of the British army was oo,'pe" CIV
To obey orders to shoot only ]" .a
the order was reasonable one unu
The circumstances" Seeley told the
that no one. from general 10 " " "
vate. was expected to use more w
,ban required to maintain order ~