Earlier in the day Mr. Bonar Law had announced that
the Government had consulted their law officers about Sir Edward Carson's speech, and were advised that there was no ground on which action could be taken. Mr. Clynes's motion did nothing to shake the position of the Government. On the contrary, it simply showed the hollowness of the talk about treason. The Attorney-General defended the advice he had given the Govern- ment, and pointed out that Sir Edward Carson's threats to call out the Ulster Volunteers and summon the Provisional Govern- ment were " rhetorical, hypothetical, and contingent," and as such were " miles away from a criminal offence." We think every one on reflection will say that Sir Gordon Newest could not possibly have given the Government any other advice. And that will remain true whatever we may think of the violence or inopportuneness of Sir Edward Carson's language.
