The Chief Secretary, in the House of Commons on Thursday,
April 28th, explained the Estimates for his office. He warmly defended the Auxiliary police. They would, he said, be main- tained as the Sinn Feiners were extending their campaign of violence. Re emphasized the fact that the rebels were now murdering Protestants, as well as ex-Service men and policemen and soldiers. Ho riaculed the suggestion that. Ireland was " a mass of devastated ruin." The elections would be held on May 24th, both in the North and in the South, though the Sinn Feiners intended to interfere with the elections in Ulster. Mr. Asquith complained of " the new policy of meeting crime by crime." He absolved from blame all the troops, most of the Royal Irish Constabulary, and " a very large number " of the Auxiliaries. Nevertheless, he suggested as " the only remedy " the disbandment of the Auxiliaries, who are, of course, specially feared by the murder.gang. Sir Edward Carson protested against the proposal of Colonel Guinness that the Southern elections should be postponed, for that would be a triumph for the assassins. Lord Robert Cecil admitted that order must be restored in Ireland, but lamented the Government's " miserable " policy.
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