IRISH NEGOTIATIONS.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 281, 25 November 1921, Page 5

IRISH NEGOTIATIONS.

NEARING COMMON GROUND. ALL-IRELAND TM/R.T.TATVTErWT BEAT BE DEFERRED. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Conyrignt.i (Deceived 2.30 p.in.l LONDON. November 24. Unexpectedly Lord Birkenhead and Sir Gordon Hewart conferred with Mr. Arthur Griffiths, Mr. Michael Collins, and Mr. Gavan Duffy at tne House of Lords to-day. Sir .Tas. Craig will see Mr. Lloyd George on Friday. Prior to the interview Lord Birkenhead .sees a number of Unionist leaders. It ie understood that the Sinn Feiners agreed to guarantee extended powers to Ulster. It is believed that the Sinn Feiners, though adhering to the All Ireland Parliament, scheme, are willing, provided Ulster agrees Iβ a new boundary delimitation, to accept a proposal deferring the All Ireland Parliament, contenting themselves meanwhile with a National Assembly. £t, is stated that Ulster is not implacably opposed to consideration of an All Ireland Parliament after a period of years. Thus gradually the opposing elements rt r e approaching common ground.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

GAOL SET ON FIRE. FIGHT IN TOP STOREY. \ ~~ LONDON', November 24. Forty Sinn Fein prisoners fired the Galway gaol to-day as a protest against restrictions imposed in consequence of the escape of internees els-ewherc. prisoners first set fire to a number of beds und a quantity of bedding in two cells whicli involved the left winjr. They then overpowered the warders, seized tlic keys, fled to the topmost storey of the right wing, destroyed an iron staircase leading thereto, and barricaded themselves in a room with six warders, who were taken as hostages.

Military iire-fighters extinguished the (lames promptly, after which a strong force of police ascended the only remaining staircase, and attacked the incendiaries, who were arrested after a fierce fight in which five warders and five prisoners were wounded.— (A. and N.Z.)

ANGLO- AMEBIC AN DISCORD. SOLE AND PERMANENT CAUSE. LONDON, November 24. Lord Birkenhead, speaking at an Aldwych Club luncheon, said that th<; prospects of the Irish negotiations were subtly interwoven with the issues at Washington. One could not describe the relief there would be in the whole international atmosphere, and especially in the atmosphere of Anglo-American relations, if the Irish negotiations were brought to a harmonious conclusion, promising the loyal continuation of Ireland as a free partner ill the Empire, nnd removing the sole chronic and pernmnent cause of Anglo-American antagonism.— (A. and S.Z. Cable.)