Carson explains resignation from Cabinet
London, 21 October 1915 - ‘I ask the House to believe that in the course I have taken I have been actuated by no personal or party motives, but I have acted to the best of my ability in the interest of my country,’ Sir Edward Carson told the House of Commons in London yesterday.
Carson made the remarks in the course of a speech in which he set out at some length his reasons for leaving Cabinet earlier this week.
Reasons for leaving
He referred to the declaration of war on Bulgaria and to the ongoing campaign in Gallipoli and said that government policy in this region was essential to British honour and prestige.
He continued: ‘That situation, with all its complications, necessitated in my opinion, a clearly defined, well-thought-out, and decisive policy on the part of His Majesty’s Government, and finding myself unable to agree in any respect with what I understand was laid down as the policy approved of by His Majesty’s government, I felt that my presence in the Cabinet could not be of any use in the critical situation in which we were involved.’
‘I have seen criticisms of myself, and of my reasons for resigning, of a very petty and malicious character, attributing to me motives of a party political character. I do not desire to deal with these ridiculous assertions, further than to say that since I entered Cabinet I have never heard one word of discussion or dispute on those party questions which divided us before the war.’
[Editor's note: This is an article from Century Ireland, a fortnightly online newspaper, written from the perspective of a journalist 100 years ago, based on news reports of the time.]
