IRISH PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16812, 19 April 1920, Page 7

IRISH PROBLEM.

A CHANGE OF POLICY. (By Cubic—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian and X.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, April 15. The newspapers generally consider that the release of the liunger-strikers marks an entire change in the Irish policy. Mr Lloyd George is personally responsible for the change. Lord French, Mr J. I. Macplicrson. and .Sir John Taylor, Permanent Under-Secre-tary, are generally held responsible for the earlier policy. Mr Macpherson has already resigned, and Lord French is likely to follow. It is rumoured that Sir John Taylor "will have a colonial appointment. Sir Nevil Macready is credited by some newspapers with*the responsibility of tho dramatic reversal of the Government's policy. It is believed that he told Lord French that ho must have a clear field as Commander-in-Chief. Sir Nevil Mncrendy's representations were submitted to Downing street, aiul resulted in a repudiation of what the Front Bench had said in tho Houso of Commons 24 hours earlier. It is understood that Sir. Hamar Greenwood (who has succeeded Mr J. I. Macpherson as Chief Secretary) also expressed a desiro that the hunger-strike should be got out of tho way before he took up the reins of his office; Somo papers state that Lord French is coming to London to consult the Government relative to the responsibilities of Sir Nevil Macreadv and himself. Tho "Dailv Chronicle" considers that Dublin Castle rule is not the Government's policy. Sir Nevil Macready and Sir Hamar Greenwood have been given full power to pave the way to reconciliation, and tho making of the Home Rule Bill possible. The "Evening Standard" says, in connexion with the releases, that Lord French alone was responsible. Sir Nevil Macready, as Commander of tho Forces, could not direct or initiate i a policy, and could not act without Lord French's knowledge. (Received April 17th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 16. Sir Hamar Greenwood, tho newlyappointed Chief Secretary, in an intersnid lie was going to Ireland, as all his life he had been convinced that Home Rule was tho desire of the people, and he wished to appeal to moderate Irish opinion to help the Government in its earnest and sympathetic desire to settle the Irish problem. Ho believed the vast majority of Irishmen were opposed to violence, and tho whole Empire was opposed to the establishment of an independent Republic.

RELEASE OF HUNGER-STRIKERS. LONDON, April 15. The situation at Mount.-joy prison was perplexing throughout the afternoon and evening, and it was not until 60 or 70 hunger-strikers had been carried to the hospitals, between 9 o'clock and midnight, that it was certain that tho Government had reversed its policy and released the Sinn Feiners unconditionally. Throughout there was intense excitement. The strike at Dublin liberated the entire working population, and the majority gathered in tho vicinity of tho prison, not knowing whether the strike had achieved its purpose. There was wild excitement when it was certain that the men had been released without parole, but the vast crowd became instantly quiet when the ambulances appeared carrying the men to the hospitals. Twenty-four other hunger-strikers were released to-day. The Lord Mayor of Cork announced the release of the Sinn Feiners to a, mass meeting in Cork. The audien „■ marched to the county gaol, wTicro political offenders were incarcerated, and played and sang Sinn Fein songs, the prisoners responding and waving flags from the windows. The Irish Trade Union Congress, in a manifesto, congratulated the workers on showing liow they can impose their will on the authorities, and urges the workers to prevent tho exportation of foodstuffs until the restoration of normal supplies, which were- hindered by the stoppage of transport. (Received April 18th. 11 p.m.) LONDON, April 17. All the original Mountjoy hungerstrikers have now been released. MILITARY RAID IN DUBLIN' LONDON, April 15. Following the release of <38 Mountjoy hunger-strikers last night, there was a big military raid at 2 o'clock in tho morning in the neighbourhood of the Sinn Fein headquarters. Many houses were visited, and it is reported that there were 100 arrests. The round-up in Dublin was the biggest yet organised, and began at 1 o'clock in tho morning, and lasted several hours. A total of 150 arrests was made.

The raided area included fifteen streets, tome of them among the poorest in the city, and also the Jewish quarter. It was the largest force of troops yet employed in a raid. Thirty lorries "were filled with soldiers. A wake was progressing in one house, and all the males present were arrested. Particular attention was paid to Camden street, where Constable Kells was murdered. Certain business premises were searched While the raiders were working armoured cars patrolled the street outside, with their guns trained on the crowds. MURDERS AND OUTRAGES. THE TRANSPORT STRIKE. LONDON. April 15. It is significant that, while the political prisoners are treated as heroes, Dublin has scarcely a word of sympathy for the unfortunate policeman, Kells, who, after twenty-two years of service, was murdered in a cold-blooded manner as he was going to work. Ho was in plain clothes. The assassins were evidently familiar with his movements. Tli.hid in a quiet spot until Kells was parsing, and fired shots at the unsuspecting man. Then three men were seen to walk quietly away. Constable Henison was shot at Balbriggan during a procession of demonstrators in connexion with tho_ release of the prisoners. He was admitted to the hospital in a dying condition, and succumbed later. Tho police and military were involved in a collision with civilians at MiltownMalbav, Countv Clare. Three civilians were killed and nine wounded. There are no details. (Received April 18th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 16. In obedience to yesterday's manifesto, r.o butter, pigs, or bacon, were offered for export from' Dublin. Instructions have been issued to 120,000 transport workers to strike immediately goods are tendered for export. A crowd at Limerick railway station stoned the police escorting the mails. The pr.iice fired, slightly wounding several persons. Forty men, armed with hurleys, held up a mail car at Charleville, County Limerick. They seized the mails, and then allowed the driver to proceed. ''Received April 18th, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON. April 17. Captain White, a son of Field-Mar-shal Sir G. White, was hunger-striking for four days in Mountjoy Prison. He savs he is not in favour of resorting to physical force on behalf of Sinn Feinism. A Coroner's jury at Cork returned a verdict of murder against Mr Lloyd George in connexion with the death of Mr Mac Curtain, late Lord Mayor of Cork.

Foley, an ex-soldier, who joined the Royal Irish Constabularv when he was demobilised, was found dead in a creamery yard at Tralec. There were 26 bullet wounds in his bodv. Foley had been blindfolded, and his hands werp tied behind him. (Received April 10th, 12.40 a.m.) LONDON, April 17. Tlie Clonmel Board of Guardians, the majority of whom are Sinn Feiners. passed a resolution excluding policemen and ex-soldiers from the Union Hospital. The Board also declared that exsoldiers to murder clubs organised to kill Iri«h leaders. Subsequently hundreds of ex-soldiers raided the Board room and smashed the furniture and fittings.