"The right hon. gentleman," he remarked, "cannot be expected to carry all the Regulations in his head. The hon. member had better give notice."
Cannonade of Questions which opened along full length of Opposition Benches was concerned with the Plot.
"The Plot!" Member for Sark savagely repeated. "That's the ineffective heading in the newspapers. In order to keep up their circulation in parsonages, board-rooms of directors, and suchlike fastidious quarters they are reticent with adjectives. It's only Mrs. Patrick Campbell who could select the appropriate one and give it due emphasis."
Short of that, Opposition did pretty well in denunciation of the Plot and condemnation of dastardly Government responsible for its planning. Chaloner opened fire with demand that judicial enquiry should be ordered into "allegations as to an unauthorised plot to over-awe Ulster by armed occupation." Butcher, Worthington Evans, Helmsley, Archer-Shee, Locker-Lampson, Kinloch-Cooke—what was it Grandolph, à propos of Sclater-Booth, said of men who "had double-barrelled names"?—blazed away. Sometimes in succession; occasionally in platoons. In each case imperturbable Premier gave the short reply that did not turn away wrath. On the contrary, angry passions rose.
Member for East Edinburgh, as usual going the whole Hogge, suggested arraignment of Bonar Law on charge of high treason. Kellaway, anxious to get to business, enquired "whether these Questions might not be addressed to the spies in the service of the Opposition." At end of half-hour even temper of Premier was ruffled. Asked a tenth Supplementary Question by Butcher, he sharply replied:—
"I decline to answer any such enquiry."
Ironical applause of Opposition drowned in burst of angry cheering from Ministerialists.
Sark, as mentioned, unusually roused. As a rule successfully affects attitude of one "who cares for none of these things." To-day moved to unsuspected depths.
"Here," he says, "is Ulster, for two years arming with avowed intention of forcibly resisting the law of the land. The Constitutional Party in this country, bulwark of Law and Order, who, when the Southern Counties of Ireland were in revolt, applauded Prince Arthur's Cromwellian command, 'Don't hesitate to shoot,' backs them up, in my opinion very properly. Carson has developed Napoleonic genius in reviewing troops on parade. F. E. Smith has, with startling effect, 'galloped' along their massed ranks. Londonderry has pledged his knightly word to be in the firing line when the trumpet sounds. All the while, to the bewilderment of onlookers from the Continent, who confess they are further off than ever from understanding John Bull, to the creation of ominous restlessness among their own supporters, the Ministry, Brer Rabbit of established Governments, have 'lain low and said nuffin',' much less have they done anything. Suddenly, without word of warning, they take steps for the protection of military stores in Armagh, Omagh, and Carrickfergus.
"That's their account of the transaction. We know better. It was a carefully devised Plot to take Carson's hundred thousand armed and drilled men at their word and compel them to fight. Not since war began has there been such unjustifiable—don't wish to use strong language, but must say—such really rude procedure on part of a so-called civilised Government."