IRISH PEACE PACT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 98, 27 April 1922, Page 5

IRISH PEACE PACT.

CRAIG-COLLINS AGREEMENT. DEFINITE BREAKDOWN. MULLINGAR PREPARES FOR BATTLE. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 20. Official correspondence between Sir Jas. Cvaig and Mr. Michael Collins, issued in Belfast, indicates that the London agreement has definitely broken down. The situation is tense in Mullingar, Westmeath. In view of Mr. de Valera's visit next Sunday rival forces are fortifying the public buildings, and as a protection against both the workers are organising. looting on a huge scale is prevalent, and the township is terrified. Severay big guns have been brought in, and the windows of commandeered buildings have been sandbagged. Republicans attacked a lorry load of Free State soldiers. The market square and streets are deserted save for the combatants. Six of the Republicans were captured The correspondence between Sir Jae. Craig and Mr. Collins has been published. It commenced with Mr, Colline, on behalf of the Free State Government, refusing to co-operate with the Jvorthern Government on the railway commission until the vital clauses of the agreement had been fulfilled, particularly regarding the release of prisoners, which "Mr. Collias described as most unsatisfactory. Sir James Craig, in a length reply, said that the Northern Government wa e trying to carry out the spirit and letter of the agreement, but the Free State departments as a whole had not shown courtesy or consideration, which the Northern Government hoped for. and taken action calculated to embarrass the admiatration. Despite the agreement armed incursions into Northern territory continue. Sir James regretted the disturbances in Belfast, but the Northern Government was hampered in suppressing crime with regard to prisoners by the large number of murders and serious crimes. In conclusion he earnestly asked Mr. Colline to remember article eleven of the agreement, and to join him in asking their peoples to exercise restraint. This article declares that the two Irish Governments are to unite in appealing to all concerned to refrain from inflammatory speeches and to exercise restraint in the interests of peace. —(A. and X.Z. Cable.) The agreement referred to was made in London on March 30, and was hailed with delight both in England and Ireland. Clause one stated that: "Peace to-day is declared." The second clause stated that the Governments of the Irish Free State and Northern Ireland undertook to co-operate in every way with a view to the restoration of peace in the unsettled areas o! Ireland. The third clause set out *hat special police should be appointed in mixed districts, composed half of Roman Catholics and half of Protestants. The fourth clause provided that a court should be conetihited for trials without jury for all persons charged with serious crimes. The court to consist of the Irieh Chief Justice and one of ihe Lords of Appeal. The Government of Northern Ireland to pass necessary legislation to effect thie. The fifth clause provided for the setting up of a. committee consisting of an equal number of Protestants and Roman Catholics to sit in Belfast to investigate complaints regarding intimidation end outrages. The sixth clause stated that republican army activity should cease in the six counties, and thereupon a special police force should be organised for the six: counties outside Belfast on similar lines to that to be provided for Belfast. The seventh clause stated that immediately following the passage of a bill framing the constitution of the Free State, there shall be a further meeting of the signatories of the present agreement to ascertain whether means can be devised to secure the unity of Ireland, and failing this, whether an agreement can be arrived at on the boundary question otherwise than by the boundary commission. BELFAST'S RED RECORD. HUNDRED MURDERS IN EIGHT WEEKS. {Received 10.80- a.m.) LONDON, April 26. Lord Justice Moore, opening the Belfast Assizes, said was no use blinking the fact that the population of 400,000 in Belfast were being held up by 800 criminals. Since February there* have been 97 murders, 57 attempted murders, 150 house-breaking cases, 130 robberies, and 37 cases endangering life.—(A. and X.Z. Cable.)