Norwich bulletin., 1914-03-25
Free Criticism
 of King George
HOSTILE OUTBREAK IN HOUSE
 OF COMMONS.
KINGS CRITIC CHEERED
Labor Party Members in Open Revolt -ExPianation Demanded from Two Government Spokesmen.

London, March 24.-Westminster con- tinues to be a seething cauldron over what the liberals now denounce as the "muttny of the army aristocrats" against democratic government.
 The fact has been established from Hubert Cough and the other officers of the Third Cavalry brigade demand ed and obtained written assurances, which had been drafted by a lawyer, that they would not oe ordered to fight Sir Edward Carson's Ulster Vol unteers. and that these assurances were obtained largely through the per- sonal intervention of the king.
 Denunciations of the King.
 Before they left London yesterday they sent telegraphic messages to their brother officers in Ireland tEat they had found support from th ! highest quarters on their arrival at Curragh camp today and they were welcomed by a guard of honor with cheers, and related the outcome of their summons to the war office.
 The throne, which has additionally kept out of party controversies, both because of aloofness and as a poInr of honor with public men and newspapers, is involved in the disc I5Sion as it 1as never been before during King Georges reign or that of his dIp'0uG1ttc -fat!.er The section of The liberals who orpos- cd what they denounce as surrender to the military. are crircising the king with the greatest freedom.
 Demands for Explanation.
 They resent his action in summoning to the palace Field Marshal Lord Rob rets. who in his speeches advised the officers that they might properly re- fuse service in suppressing the Ulster irreconcilables, and critcise his majes- ty for dealing personally with Field Marshal Sir John French. chief of the general staff, and General Sir Arthur Paget, commanding the forces in Ire land, who should have been dealt with. they think. only by the secretary of state for war. in accordance with the customary official routine.
 The governments two spokesmen. Colonel Seeley secretary of war, in the house of commons, and Viscount Morley of Blackburn, in the house of sistent demands for explicit informa- ton. They were asked as to ex- actly what assurances the government gave the military officers and whether they were written or verbal. Both refused to answer any questions be- fore the papers were presented to the house.
 Labor Party Members in Revolt.
 If these papers disclose that the gov 1lllSuS lO lilOSS MIlO Ie- fused duty in Ulster, Premier As Quith's administration will face great danger from rebellion in its own ranks The most reliable parliamentary writ CTS will make this statement in the morning papers.
 The labor members, who throughout Mir. Asquith's administration have been criticised by many of the rank and file of their party for seeming to be do- ciiely chained to his chariot wheels, are in open revolt. They harp upon the fact that Tom Mann was sent to prison for six months for melting the soldiers to refuse to fire upon strikers when ordered, and demand to be in formed as to whether there Is to be one law for aristocrats with commissions and another for plebians in the ranks when it comes to matters of conscience and obedience to orders.
 Demonstration in Commons.
 The house of commonss witnessed a telling demonstration this afternoon of how the land lies. It showed where not only the Irish home rulers and la borites, who made Premier Asquith's majority and hold the balance of pow CT in the house, stand, but that many liberals are opposed to what from their present information. they con sider a surrender to the army officers.
 The army appropriation bill was un- der discussion, and the unionist, Leo pold C. Amery, moved reduction for the purpose of criticiSing the govern ment. on the ground that it was not entitled to use the army for party pur- poses, which is the basis of the un- ionist position in the present crisis.
 Criticism of King Cheered.
 The laborite, John Ward, who was a dock laborer and at one time pri- vate in the army. seconded the mo- tton( but from a different point of view He said that the conservatives, by approving the rebellion of the off, cers, had "started to smash the Brit ish army" The house. he said, had to decide whether 1t was going to main tain the discipline of the army as a neutral force or whether the parlia- ment elected by the people should "ab- solutely. without interference from the king or the army, make the laws of the realm"
 When the speaker uttered in stento- rfan tones without interference from the king or the army giving a cal culated and dramatic pause after the word king" half the house was on its feet cheering. All the labor mem bers and all the home rule Irishmen, and not only they, but very many of the liberal members, stood and shout ed for a considerable space of time.
 Parliament has not witnessed such an obviously hostile criticism of the throne in the memory of the oldest member. nor even in the past century.