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Show IMPORTATION OF IMSJfiOHieilED British Government Takes Steps to Counteract Activities Activ-ities of Ulster Irishmen. NOTTINGHAM, England, Dec. 6. Sir Edward Carson, in a speech here tonight said that tho Ulster Toltintoors who a year ago numbered num-bered 19,000, now aggregated 90,-000. 90,-000. Ho added that thoy wore perfectly per-fectly determined and awaiting orders. or-ders. LONDON, Doe. 6. Tho British cabinet by a. royal proclamation promulgated tonight, to-night, prohibiting tho Importation of arms nnd ammunition Into Ireland, for the first tlmo grasped the nettle of tho revolution In Ulster, which it had hlthorto Ignored, although the followers of Sir Edward Carson for months havo been advertising advertis-ing their military preparations in overv possible way and daring lntcrfcrenco with thorn. Almost at tho tlmo of publication of tho proclamation Premier Asqulth made tho longest step toward the conciliation of tho Ulstorltes that tho government ha.s taken by announcing his accoptance of tho three principles which Premier As-aultli As-aultli suggested In his last speech. Basis for Settlement. These suggestions are: First, that tho ngreemont must not bo degrading or humiliating to Ulster. Second, England's treatment must not be dlfforont from that meted out to othor parta of the United Kingdom. Third, Ulster must retain full protection protec-tion of tho imperial parliament. Fourth, the home rule bill must not bo such as to lead to ultimate separation from Great Britain. Thus tho government extends to the signers of tho Ulster covenant the olive brancn. Signed by King George. The proclamation prohibiting the importation impor-tation of arms and ammunition into England, which King George signed at a meeting of tho privy council Thursday and which was published in tho Etoyal Gazotta tonight, was mlldor than rumors hnt anticipated It would bo. Instead of reviewing tho Irish crimes act, so odious to the old-time homo rulers against whom it was directed, which prohibited the carrying of nxrrm and gave drastic power of search for arms, it Invoked the customs consolidation act of 1 S 7 G. Tho only Teason given in tho proclamation for taking tho step is tho statement "whereas, it Is oxpedient that the importation impor-tation into Ireland of arms and ammunition ammuni-tion and other goods hereinafter mentioned men-tioned should bo prohibited, thoreforo," and the proclamation proceedo to specify all articles intended for or capable of Doing Do-ing used for military purpoacr, as being undor tho ban. It exempts, howover, arms and explosives designed solely for sporting or mlno uses. Address at Manchester. Premier Asqulth's pronouncement was made In an aftor-dSnnor speech, bofore tho Itoform club at Manchester. It was in Uils same city on a similar occasion that Sir Edward Carson's overtures were made, so that it would appear that tho negotiations for a Bottlemont of the Irish controversy woro taking tho courso of informal in-formal public debate Premier Asqulth said 7io was sure Sir. TDdwnrd Carson must agree that tho statement that thcro could bo no settlement settle-ment worthy the name that would bo humiliating hu-miliating or degrading to those for whom Sir Bdward spoko Bhould apphy to all sections sec-tions of tho Irish people. Case. of Urgency. On the second point Mr. Asqulth Bald ho supposed Sir Edward referred to what formerly was called "homo rule all around." Ireland's case, he added, was ti case of urgency and must coma first It would not bo delayed until the government govern-ment han gone through tho complicated process of adapting tho principle of homo rule to ull tho different parts of the United Kingdom. Tho premier said ho agreed that tboro must be no ultimate separation of Ireland Ire-land from Great Britain. Tho ral and offoctive authority, supreme and unquestionable, un-questionable, ho said, must bo retained iby the Imperial parliament. In concluding his speech. Prsmler Aa-outh Aa-outh BUU I am hoBeful that dlactualon. freely and frankly carried out on the lines I indicated in-dicated at Ladybunk and on Ihc lines Sir falwanl Carson Indicated, may load to a cessation of the lonpr embittered controversy contro-versy and a sutlcmnt whirli will rom-liiRiid rom-liiRiid the conneut nnd Kood will of all parties concorned. I asi'co with Sir Edward Ed-ward Carson that wo have to consider caiofully and ayinpathctlcally the. case of tho Irish minority, but equally we must keep In mind the case of the majority, ma-jority, who, after u struggle extending ovor more than a lifetime, now sec their goal actually In siuht." Lightens the Gloom. Mr, Asquith's speech coined nt an hour when thu newspapers of both parties considered con-sidered that attempts at a t-'uttlument had reached the stage of deadlock and wore taking the gloomiest vluw of tho futuro. If tho compromise- Is consummated the agitation ovor tho army, which In tho last week has grown bitter, will bo ono of the strongest reasons for it. Sir Edward Ed-ward Carson and several prominent Unionists, notably I-ord I.ansdown and Andrew Bonar Law, suggested In speeches that tho ofrlcors should refilgn and tho soldiers refuse to Are if ordered to fight fellow Protestants. Tho leaders of tho labor unions hailed thnij Bpjschen as preadcntn nd ikd indignantly why Sir Edward Carton wa permitted to advocate such a policy when Tom Mann was recently Imprisoned for a wpeech In which he advised soldiern to re fuse to tiro on strikers, Tho present labor la-bor situation Is so delicate that the conservatives con-servatives apparently have begun to fear the Intluoticu of their words. Even Sir Edward Carson has declared that the tlrst duty of tho army Is to obey orders. A Dublin newspaper said today that Socretary of War Sceley had demanded the resignation of Major Crichton of tho Horse Guards, a son of Viscount Erne, for Jjl3 connection with the Ulster volunteers. volun-teers. Thereupon eight ofllccrs of the Horse Guards threatened to resign, and the secretary of war withdrew his demand. |