14 DECEMBER 1918, Page 2

Mr. Asquith, when he likes, is a master of precise

statement. Yet when he was asked at Cupar on Wednesday the plain question, "Are you prepared to coerce Ulster ? " he took refuge in the ambiguous and evasive reply, " I do not think the coercion of Ulster will be at all necessary." On the face of it, such an answer suggests that Mr. Asquith sees no moral or political objection to the coercion of Ulster if it were deemed " necessary " by a Liberal Government to buy the Nationalist vote. Does Mr. Asquith really stand for such a denial of the fashionable "right of self-determination" to loyal Ulster ? And if not, what does his answer mean ?