IRELAND AND EMPIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9474, 6 March 1922, Page 5

IRELAND AND EMPIRE

QUESTION OF SECESSION. AMENDMENT IN THE COMMONS. (Per Press Association, Copyright.) LONDON, March 3. In the House of Commons, Air C. Percy moved an amendment designed to prevent Ireland seceding from the Empire. He quoted Air Bonar Law to the effect that the Dominions had a perfect right to secede if they wished. Air Churchill refused to accept this as a final pronouncement on the constitutional law of the Empire. If the question were raised it " could be pressed in one direction or another to a conclusion which would be unedifying, not helpful. But the Dominions had never claimed, and Britain had never admitted their right, to secession. He deprecated attempts to more precisely define the status of Ireland and the other Dominions, which would be better left to an easy forward movement for unity and confidence which had enabled 'Britain and the Dominions to stand together and carry the structure of Imperial inheritance through every peril. The amendment was lost by 250 votes to 53.

TERRORISM IN BELFAST. SHOOTING DURING WEEK-END. (Received Alarch 6, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Alarch 5. There was much unrest in Belfast during the week-end. Shooting was widespread on Sunday afternoon and an attempt was made \to murder two constables in Donegal Street. Both were hit, but not killed. Owen Hughes, a tram .passenger, was shot dead when passing the sniping area. The police later saw a sniper run into an entry. They concentarated their fire and 12 men ran out. One was i hit, but his comrades dragged him away. The military used a machine-gun in Kent Street. Two bombs were flung in a window in Lanark Street at midnight, wounding two women and the brother of one girl had his foot amputated.

LIMERICK RAIDED. BY REPUBLICAN TROOPS. (Received Alarch 6, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, Alarch 5. Four hundred Republican soldiers raided Limerick with the object of supporting the mid-Limerick brigade’s proclamation of fealty to the Republic.