SINN FEIN CONSPIRACY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 101, 29 April 1921, Page 5

SINN FEIN CONSPIRACY.

INCREASING VIRULENCE. ELECTIONS HEXT MONTH. CHIEF SECRETARY'S STATEMENT. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 1.30 p.m.i LONDON", April 28. In the House of Commons to-day Sir Hamar Greenwood (Chief Secretary for ■ J Ireland), in moving the Irish vote, re- • ■ gretted that, owing to 'Sinn Fein threats , ] of death many newspaper correspondents s! had been compelled to leave Ireland. Ho ■ was therefore taking steps to improve i I publicity from Ireland. The discipline lof the Crown forces was good, though • i Sinn Fein headquarters had issued orders •J to shoot them at sight. The virulence of ! j tho conspiracy had increased by bomb- ; , throwing in the streets, wrecking and ; burning trains, and kidnapping women. I I He profoundly regretted that he had been ; I unable to protect innocent people. One .! of the Sinn Fein's new methods was the , i persecution of Protestants, fifteen of - I whom were done to death without rhyme i or reason, while there was a systematic ■ J campaign against ex-soldiers and sailors. •j SINN FEIN MOUTHPIECE. . j Mr. J. M. Kenworthy, Liberal member I for Central null., having interrupted i aeveral times, Sir Hamar Greenwood reJI torted: "It does not lie in your mouth to , ' find fault when I have intercepted a letj j ter from Michael Collins, organiser of . j all the bloodshed, linking you as the I ; mouthpiece of Sinn Fein in this House." [ I ( Cheers.) I Mr. Kenworthy: "There is not a word lOf truth in it." ' j Sir Hamar Greenwood, proceeding, I said that a document in hu possession \ showed that the extremists contemplated , j sinister action in Ulster, but the clecj tions would be held in the north and the 1 south on May 24, under military and j police protection, for he would not allow !1 an Act of Parliament to be torn up. :! Mr. Asquith said that Sir Hamar j Greenwood's statement was an admission ' , of the complete failure of the Oovern- ■' ments Irish policy. Meeting crime by , j crime and inflicting unmerited outrage ! upon the innocent was contrary io all I the traditions of civilised warfare. It .! was incredible that such a stain should II be cast on the houour of the Executive jof the Crown. Recent events proved that , 1 discipline in places was out of hand, , I demoralised, and criminally reckless of , human life. We were not contesting a campaign of crime with clean hands. | i The only remedy he could suggest was to disband the army forces and to rely on ' the old-established forces of the Crown. Sir E. H. Carson was glad that the Government intended to set up the two . Irish Parliaments without delay, and j would have the courage to go straight ( on. Under existing conditions the relations between the North and the South , were growing steadily worse. CROWN FORCES DEFENDED. Mr. Lloyd George made a spirited de--1 fence of the Crown forces, who, he said, had been abused for four hours. He was now going to defend and encourage them. (Cheers.) The mistakes of the auxiliaries bad been blazoned abroad to encourage our enemies and calumniate those who I were simply doing their duty. What J alternative was there to the GovernI ment'e policy except complete surrender to Sinn Fein? Mr. Lloyd George emphasised that the opponents of the Government made no protest against the hundred police who were killed without a single prosecution being possible. Only then did the police defend them selves. Mr. Dan Irving, Socialist member for Burnley, interjected: "That's a lie." and repeated the exclamation twice. When called upon to withdraw he obstinately refused until told to leave the House. Mr. Irving then remained seated, but hie Labour colleagues urged him to apologise, so he rose and said he had all along protested against these outrages. Mr. Lloyd G«orge continued: "I will willingly meet any representative Irishman who is not under suspicion of murder to discuss terms of settlement without laying down any preliminary conditions." ! EXCESSES IN IRELAND. BISHOP CLTTNE'S VIEWS. 1 EXECUTIONS IN CORK. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 28. In the House of Commons to-day Mr. Lloyd George was asked whether he had I seen the statement by Dr. Clune, Bishop of Perth, made in Australia that every infamy perpetrated by the Germans in ' Belgium had been repeated and even exceeded in Ireland, and whether any steps had been taken to clear Britain's good 1 name. Mr. Lloyd George said that he had . not seen all the newspaper reports of Dr. . Clune's speech, but he and his colleagues inside and outside the House had taken every step,to explain and justify the Government's action in Ireland. Four rebels were executed in Cork barracks for participation in ambushes. Their relatives and friends prayed outside during the executions. The Recorder of Cork has awarded Mrs. dimming £10,000 compensation for themurder of her husband. Cantain Cum- ' ming, a brother, received £3000 on the ' ground that he was absolutely dependent • upon deceased. —(A. and N.Z. Cable.)