IRISH NEGOTIATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 158, 5 July 1921, Page 5

IRISH NEGOTIATIONS.

SMUTS VISITS CRAIG. HOPES OF SETTLEMENT. ANOTHER FIRE-RAISING CAMPAIGN. (By Cable—rress Association.—Copyright.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, July 4. General J. C. Smuts is visiting Sir James Craig at Belfast to-day. It is believed in Belfast that if the Republicans drop the demand for the abolition of Ulster's new Parliament a fiscal settlement will be possible, despite Ulster's previous opposition to fiscal autonomy. Armed and masked men burned live farm houses and their contents near Athlonc during curfew hours. A blind woman aged 90 had to be carried from a burning building. No arrests have been made.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.) CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN. SEVEN POLICE MURDERED. LONDON, July 4. Preparations for to-morrow's conference between do Valera and South of Ireland Unionist. M.P.'s are proceeding in Dublin, which apparently is unconcerned regarding the prospects of the meeting. Meanwhile, during the week-end, Irish rebels murdered seven policemen, including two who were previously held as prisoners, and another young constable, who had recently returned from his honeymoon. < . Rebels also attempted to destroy a troop train, but were interrupted by a detachment of South Lancashires, who surprised a party of rebels laying six mines on the Great Southern Railway. Six rebels were wounded while fleeing. Mines and other explosives, electrical apparatus, and a motor car were captured.

Many outrages occurred in central Antrim. Telegraph wires were cut, and Ballymena was isolated. Post offices were raided and looted, and bridges and roads destroyed in Tyrone. Incendiary fires occurred at Omagh.

London is completely encircled by a cordon of special police, with a view to checking the activities of Irish rebel incendiaries. Attempts to set fire to signal boxes and to cut wires were frustrated.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)