The Irish Problem.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16550, 16 June 1919, Page 6

The Irish Problem.

Tho position of Ireland is tragic in tho extreme. Tho Sinn Fein delegates to Paris describe the conditions in their country as amounting to civil war, but it is not in these terrible conditions that all tho tragedy lies. There have been occasions—at least three occasions— since the Ulster rising upon which a solution of the Irish problem seemed possible, but the passions of some and the blunders of others have left Ireland, now a prosperous country, further than ever from poaco and contentment, or even from inclination to discuss a settlement of her quarrel with Groat Batain. The Nationalist Party has been extinguished by the uprush of anti-British and separatist feeling, and the great, majority of Irishmen reject with

scorn and violence every suggestion of a settlement that falls short of independence. North-East Ulster remains implacably opposed, not only to Home Rule -without partition, but even to Home Rule with partition. Nationalist Ireland regards partition as something which cannot even bo discussed. Tho only point upon which Irishmen as a whole are agreed is that for good or ill Ireland must remain united. In Great Britain the old strict opposition to Home Rule has practically disappeared, and Englishmen of all parties would tako joy in giving to Ireland any form of government whatever that Irishman united in demanding. Yet the Briti>a Government maintains a large army of occupation, with all the paraphernalia of war, in the country that nearly every Englishman wishes well and wishes to soo set free from her difficulties. Tho army of occupation can hardly bo withdrawn, because Ireland vs seething with lawlessness, and grievous outrages are of daily occurrence. Beyond maintaining this army, and repressing cuine and outrage so far as they can be repressed, the Government has no policy, as the Chief Secretary made clear enough in the House of Commons in April last. Yet a policy must be found, and that speedily, for the Irish problem is becoming a real danger to the Empire. When we read in the "Manchester Guardian" or tho "Westminster "Gazette" that tho position in Ireland deeply affects Britain's credit in tho world and is tending to re-act deplorably in the Dominions and in America, we may suspect that these excellent journals are merely indulging in. rhetoric. But "The Times," which stands loyally by Ulster, says exactly the Bame thing. "The condition of Ire- " land," it said on April 16th last, "is "poisoning the broader currents of our " Imperial and external policies. It is " affecting our relations with the Do- " minions, and the misunderstanding it " creates clouds our friendship with the " United States." A settlement, everyone says, must be found when peace is signed. Even Sir Edward Carson takes that for granted, and no responsible person or party takes the view that things can go on as they are going until Ireland settles down, and that then nothing need be done. "The prcblem of " Ireland," "Tho Times" declares, "can "no longer be left a matter of debate." In the meantime, a state of civil war exists and there is no gleam of light in. the tragic situation.

About the end of May Lieutenant Maddocks, who, with Lieutenants Kinggford-Smith and Rendle, propose to attempt the flight to Australia, declared, "Nothing will prevent lis starting nest week." The best-laid schemes of airmen are, however, apt to go astray, and the probability of their doing so increased when, as in the present case, the schemes are not planned with sufficient' care. The formidable list of difficulties in the successful accomplishment of the feat that were pointed out by the Aero Club and t}he Air Ministry were pooh-poohed by the Kangaroo's crew, who expressed thoir perfect willingness to "chance it." But the authorities were not inclined to run the risk of having the death of the three adventurers laid at their doors, and as—contrary apparently to popular belief—the time has not yet arrived when an airman can announce that ho intends to fly across the world and start on his flight forthwith, the Kangaroo's trip has been postponed for some months, partly, it seems, in order to allow of proper arrangements being made for supplies en route, and partly to allow the monsoon season to pass.

The difficulty regarding supplies of petrol is not easy to understand, in view of the statement made some weeks back that the Australian authorities in London had arranged for supplies to he available at Turin, Bnndisi, Crete, Ras el Tiu, Aboukir, Damascus, Bagdad, Basra, Bushire, Bandar Abbas, Karachi, Jeypore, Delhi, Benares, Calcutta, Akyab, Rangoon, Penang, Singapore, Batavia, Sourabaya, and Kopang. Tho next stop would have been in Australia, where the journey would end. The Blackburn company, which is supplying the machine, a Jtvangaroo, fitted with two 270 h.p. Rolls-Royce engines., with a wingspan of 75ft, a range ot 1250 miles, and a speed of 85 miles an hour, has expressed full confidence in the machine and its crew. Official caution, however, has prevailed, in spite of the fact that the Air Ministry's party, which left Egypt in a HandleyPage, surveyed -the route as far as Timor.

As for Lieutenant Bert Hinkler, the Queensland aviator, who proposes to fly alone to Australia in a Sopwith Dove machine, it is probable that tho authorities at Home will discourage nis attempt for the present. Latest reports of his scheme suggested that ho was making, somewhat light of the possible difficulties that the long journey

might present. His time-table had been arranged with the precision of a suburban tram-service. He meant to make the trip in thousand-milo sections, starting about 3 or 4 a.m. each day, and finishing early in the afternoon, thus obviating any risk of losing his way in strange country, and enabling the machine to bo examined each day in daylight. Arranged on these lines his time-table ran as follows : — London, start 2 a.m., and arrive Brindisi, 1300 miles; second day, Damascus, 2300 miles; third day, Shiraz, Persia, 3300 miles; fourth day, Karachi. India, 4300 miles; fifth day, Calcutta, 5600 miles; sixth day, Tenas* serin, Siam, 6600 miles; seventh day, Macassar, Celebes, 76C0 miles; eighth day, Darwin, Australia, 8550 miles: ninth day, Hughenden, 9650 miles: tenth day, Bundab?rg, 10,350 miles. Tho flight would conclude the following dnv in Sydney, after travelling 11,000 miles. The time will come, no doubt, when flights will be arranged on this principle. But if recent events are to b9 taken as any guide, that time has not vet been reached.