IRISH CONFERENCE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 137, 12 June 1922, Page 5

IRISH CONFERENCE.

GOOD PROGRESS MADE. PREMIER'S OPTIMISM. COLLINS AND THE TREATY. gINCERE DESIRE TO OBSERVE IT THE RAIDERS OF PETTIGO. fßy Cable.--I'rcss Association. — Copyright.) ' ~ , (Received 11.uO a.m.) ~ LONDON, June 11. Mr. Lloyd George states that he is Very pleased with the progress made at the Downing Street conference with the representatives of the Irish l'rovisional Government. The conference resumes on Moil.lay. Six incendiary fires occurred in Belfast this week-end. It is reported that the Republicans are preparing a hospital prii.r to attacking Londonderry. The British are believed to contemplate occupying a salient in F.ast Donegal in order to protect trains traversing the Free State en route to Derry. Raiders stole 200 tins of petrol from B, train between Derry and Strabane.— (A. and XX Cable.) " The "Observer -, points out thnt Mr. do Vnleru remains a domestic issue with Southern Ireland, but the British Government places trust in Mr. Collins and Jlr. Griffith to overcome their own domestic dilHciilties. There is an increas. ing tendency in political circles, both in London and Dublin, 1o believe that Messrs. Collins and Griffith arc. acting with a sincere desire to put the treaty into execution. Mr. Collins' latest declaration appealing to his countrymen to use methods of conciliation instead of force is regarded as likely to turn the scale at the forthcoming elections, but it is asked will ilr. de Yalera accept any constitution which complies with the terms of the treaty V lie might conceivably break up the coalition before the elections, though the agreement with Mr. Collins and Mr. Griffith has elready given him n number of uncontested seats, and anything might happen at the contested elections with the situation confused, even if extremists forbear to employ methods of intimidation. (United Service.) A Londonderry newspaper asserts that youths on the Donegal border operating against Vlster are accustomed to visit Londonderry weekly and draw the unemployment dole paid by the Northern Government. Then they return to the business of looting trains. The Press demands Hint, the military shall clear the salient where these freebooters ore operating similarly to the Pettigo-Belleek salient. A deputation from Pettigo. including the rector, -waited on the Xorth Irish Minister of Home Affairs, and urged tlint the troops be allowed to remain, otherwise the Protestant population would inevitably leave. The rector, who was a war prisoner in Germany, said in an interview that the German was a gentleman compnrf-d with the rnid"rs. j who previous to the British occupation , coniins stnrminc down on TVtti"o armed to the teeth, fnrm boys of eWitoen or fwentr brandishing revolver*, flnnrishincr rifles, threatening life. eoTimnii'leerinS , goods, wantonly cWtroyinij proportv. | and looting pvervwliprfi, bphnvipc morn lit* KflvnTf* tlrm civilised heiner". Severn! loyalist* who were carried "'T whon tli» raiders retreated arc still prisoners. (Reuter. I