Mr. Boner Law vigorously repudiated the charge of insin- cerity
brought against the supporters of the amendment. He was opposed to Home Rule root and branch, but if the change was to be made, let there be an arrangement by which civil war might be avoided. Mr. Birrell had avoided answering the vital question: What did they mean to do if Ulster resisted? If they meant to use force, what was- the meaning of the speeches of the First Lord of the Admiralty and the Foreign Secretary ? Either they meant that if the resistance of Ulster was carried to the end they would not persist with the Bill, or they were insincere and shamming. In conclusion he declared that the Government knew that in the last resort, if Ulster did resist, there were stronger things than Parliamentary majorities ; in that case no Govern- ment would dare to use British troops to drive out Ulster loyalists ; and the Government which gave such an order. would run a great risk of being lynched. After the closure had been carried by 321 to 249, Mr. Agar-Robartee's amend- ment was rejected by 251 to 320, or a majority of 69. Three. Liberals voted against the Government and two acted as. tellers for the amendment, about a dozen were absent unpaired, and eighteen Labour members were also absent. The Unionists have every reason to be satisfied with the result of the division.
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