ATTITUDE OF SINN FEIN.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLI, Issue 9391, 13 December 1920, Page 5

ATTITUDE OF SINN FEIN.

VIEWS OF DR. MANNiX.

QUESTION OF DISARMING

(Per Press Association Copyright.)

■-...... LONDON, December 11. Ihe Dublin correspondent of the Evening Standard" says there is no likelihood of Sinn Fein accepting Mr -Lloyd George's offer. The Dail Eirean may meet secretly and issue a reply in ■spite, .of the fact that most of its members are on the.run , fearing arrest. There is not the remotest prospect of the Dail Eirean entering upon pourparlers on the basis of the Governments Home Rule legislation. Probably^ the present warfare will be continued and intensified, resulting in an extension of the military occupation to the greater part of Ireland. Mr Lloyd George telegraphed to .Father O'Flanagan reiterating his peace offer, but stating that it should be clearly, understood the Government must insist that effective measures should, be taken . to ensure the cessation', of crimes and violence and' the surrender of all arms unlawfully held. He continues: "I, in the House of Commons on August 16 and on several subsequent occasions, denned the fundamental conditions to - which the settlement must conform. The Government adhere absolutely to those conditions. .1. shall be glad to learn if the party you represent is prepared to accept them." „ • : Archbishop, Mannix, in an interview. said peace was further . off - than ever! A. truce of God meant the cessation of

.hostilities on both sides. Such a truce was doubtless what Archbishop Chine was aiming at and, as far a? Ireland was concerned, ■obtained; • but by the Government's •■meaning of;a truce' all the.. cessation niust be on one 'siiie^ .-Ar.chbishop, Cluno must be bitterly disappointed at the result; of all his •efforts.. „.■■ •-■'■ ■"'•■■■ • .Thfe ''Daily. Mail says 'that ,'great importance is attached to the interview between. Archbishop Clune and the Premier. „,The latter made en-

quiries relating to the authenticity. ;6f the messages to be'delivered "from Sinn Fein.....-The whole position has been 'Considerably changed by the messages. The Government, demands that the rebels shall lay down their arms, and ■the Sinn Feiners demand that the armistice shall include everybody. Archbishop Glune replied that the first was impossible, as many outlying parts of Ireland were not controlled even by the extremists. ,. He asked.,. Mr Lloyd George: Were the Allies able to compel ail the Germans to lay down their arms at the moment of the armistice? The Government meets the Sinn Fein demand by asserting that no amnesty can be granted to the leaders. Arch-' -bishop.-Giune retorted by quoting that Botha and De Wet were not excepted from the amnesty when peace negotiations were begun. The "Evening News' 3 states that Mr Lloyd George agreed that there was some reason for Archbishop Clune's .line of argument 1. Mr Bpnar Law substantially agreed that the greatest'factor in the Government's "standpat" "attitude is the process of t;he military ; putting down lawlessness, and the '^aversion to accepting anything savouring of weakness. LONDON, December 12. • A Republican army proclamation, issued at Monaghan, declares that Ireland is in a state of war with Great Britain. Armed murder gangs hostile to the Republican army and also guides ' and informers for the enemy forces will foe summarily dealt with- The proclamation adds: Brigades of the Republican army will collect arms, using no more force than necessary, giving receipts therefor and promises of protection for all, apart from those abovementioned. It is now stated that the Gal way County Council resolution asking for a truce was passed in the absence of a quorum. The train service at Bantry and Timoleague has been closed, owing to the men's refusal to carry soldiers escorting stores. The Second King's Royal Rifles have 'ben ordered to Ireland, a-nd the Third, (Battalion of the Rifle Brigade ordered •,to be; in readiness. Some others are Iheld in reserve.' ' '"" |