The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-03-26
Government Publishes
Promised Statement
of Its Dealings.
SEELY TAKES ALL
BLAME ON HIMSELF
Secretary of State for War Ten
ders Resignation, but 1t Is Not
Accepted-Fiery Denuncia-
tons of Military Aris-
tocracy During De-
bate in House.

London. March c5.-Thc government
to-day published its promised state
mcnt OF its dealings with tho revolving
ofncers Of the Third Cavalry brigade,
anh tho House Of Commons held an
other heated ana disor;iorly session.
l'ctwecn the documents presented aud
the various statements drawn from
cabinet ministers, vital facts OF the ;,f-
itr were made clear. They reveal a
comedy. or tragedy. OF errors perpe-
trated by Colonel Scely. Secretary OF
State for War. and Sir Arthur Pasct.
commanding the troops in ireland.
Colonel Seely took all the blame on
himself. He frankly declared he had
made great mistake. His written as
surance to General Hubert Cough that
the government must retain its right
to uso all the forces Of the crown in
Ireland or elsewhere to maintain or
der and support the civil powers in
the ordinary execution OF their duty.
but has no intention whatever OF talk
ing advantage Of this right to crush
political opposition to the policy or the
principles OF the home rule bill" was
given without tho knowledge OF the
Cabinet. and contrary to its policy.
The War Secretary rendered his res
ignation TO Mr.. Asquitir. but the pre-
mier refused to accept il. The gov
crninent has Withdrawn Colonel Secly's
guarantees, according to a statement
pE NlScount Morley In the House OF
Lords. and Sir Edward Grey told the
House or Commons that the govern
ments decision would he made known
to General Cough Tomorrow. Thus.
the situation with respect to General
Cough and his tlfty-ninc comrades, who
sent in their papers, is still In state
OF suspense.
Important Revelations.
The most important revelations OF
the day were that the government did
plan an important military and naval
emonsrtation on Ulster. Winston Spen-
Ger Churchill. First Lord OF the Admi-
ralty. confirmed reports that he had or
dercd the third battle squadron and q
torpedo hotlla to Irish waters, but cx-
planned that when the military ar
rangements had been carried out he
countermanded the orders by wircless,
received with jcers.
The blunder General Paget made APP
pears to have been in giving u prac-
tical ultimatum to officers OF the cav
airy brigade to say whether thoy
would take active service in Ulster. or
accept dismissal The Cabinet Mou-
day framed general Statement of the
officers position and duty under the
law, and Colonel Seciy freely admitted
that His error was in yielding to Gen
eral Coughs demand for 81 written as
surance that the army would not be
used to suppress the Covcuaitcrs.
Premier .Asuuith's statements that
the officers should return to duty un-
conditjonally. it is declared. were made
in good faith since lie learned ot Col
onel Secly's amendments to the Cabi-
net memorandum only yesterday after
neon. The Prime Minister made plain
u tho House OF Commons the govern
ments position regarding the army.
declaring he would not assent to tho
claim OF any body of men in the SER
n N
anccs OF what they would be required;
to do in circumstances which haG not
arisen.
Sir Edward Grey spoke even moro
strongly. lie said:
The government is prepared 10 use
force to whatever extent is required To
make the will Of the country prevail.
That is n contingency which cannot
arise for Il long time, and we will labor
to avert it,
Fiery Dennnrintion.
Niue of the debate in the House OF
Con mons tonight consisted OF fiery
dcnunciations of the military aristoc-
rGcy. Government members were pla-
Gated by to-day'S revelations, but there
remains among Radicals and Laborites
n strong and outspoken dissatisfaction
with the whole affair. All talk of a
compromise OH the home rule bill for
the time is suspended. conservatives
hold that the recent events have shown
that no compromise is possible, except
on the unconditional exclusion OF u
stor The Liberals say that would not
be comproInisc, but surrender.
Colonel Seely's transfer to another
Cabinet post is predicted. and the an
and acceptance OF the res
ignations OF General Paget and Gem
cral Cough would be no surprise.
j. Austen Chamberlain complained
that the government had revealed
nothing concerning the instructions
given by the army council To General
that when the Premier gave his state
ment to the press on Sunday he knew
that Mr. Churchill had ordered 4 bat
tie squadron 10 Lamlasn.
The honor OF the Prime Minister IS
at stake in this matter" he said.
"And It is tho First Lord of the Ad
miralty who has put 1t at stake
Resignation Not Accepted.
Mr.. Chamberlain declared IL was
known that the two paragraphs for
which the Secretary for War assumed
sole responsibility were prepared by
him in consultation with Niscount Nor
Icy, who was present throughout the
proceedings in which the Cabinet par
ticipated Lord Morley would not
have assentcd to their inclusion he
unless the paragraphs were
a fair Interpretation OF what the Cabi-
net had decided on, and the Premier
would not accept Colonel Seely's
resignation. because he only had dons
had assented 10.
Mr.. Churchill, rising, said: Lord
Morley had no direct connection with
tho paragraphs referred to. He mere
ly happened To be with Colonel Seeiy
In the Cabinet room when the dispatch