THE IRISH TRUCE

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17295, 5 November 1921, Page 11

THE IRISH TRUCE

QUESTIONS IN HOUSE OF COMMONS. ALLEGATIONS AND ADMISSIONS. (By C*b!e—Press Aseociation—Copyright.) lßcut«r'a Telejrrme.) LONDON, November 3. The extreme Unionists are more active than ever in the House of Commons, heckling Sir Hamar Greenwood, Chief Secretary for Ireland, regarding "the alleged breaches of tho truce and the landing of arms in Ireland. Sir Hamar vigorously denied that the police were not permitted to disperse Sinn Fein camps violating the truce. Ho said the liaison machinery was most successful. He repudiated the suggestion that anyone informing the police would be shot. Ho declared that there had been no clear case of murder by Sinn Feiners since the truce. Ho had been to Ireland himself. He did not believe anyone's life was endangered owing to the truce. He described the assertion that the South of I Ireland firms had been ruined by the Sinn Fein boycott of British goods as exaggerated. A number of prosecutions for intimidation had resulted in convictions. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received November 4th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 4. Since the defeat of the Unionists' Die-hards' motion in the House of Commons, Sir Hamar Greenwood has been daily bombarded with questions regarding Sinn Fein activities in defiance of tho truce, notably in connexion with gun-running, urmed camps, tho boycott and compulsory levies. His replies, which are regarded as evasive, aro principally to the effect that the matters have been referred to the Sinn Fein liaison officers who aro acting loyally to the truce contract. It is understood, nevertheless, that disclosures in tho question, showing the Government's apparent lack of information and inability to deal with mat- , ters, are causing perturbation in circles | which hitherto have dissociated themselves from those who are seeking to embarrass negotiations with Sinn Fein. This was accentuated yesterday when the Government was heckled concerning the dismissal of Sir Basil Thomson, | head of the Special Secret Service 'Force of Scotland Yard. The Home Office declared it was impossible to continue Sir Basil Thomson's appointment because he had failed to harmonise with the Civil Commissioner of Police. It is alleged, on the contrary, that he was sacrificed in order to secure tho post for Sir Joseph A. Byrne, an Irish Catholic, who recently was dismissed from the post of Inspector-General of the Itoyal Irish Constabulary. The question became complicated later when Mr E. Shortt, Home Secretary, announced that Sir Joseph Byrne, learning of the unpleasant character of the proceedings in the House of Commons, had declined to accept the offer which Mr Shortt admitted had been made to him. According to the "Daily Telegraph's" Belfast correspondent, in some parts of the country, Sinn Feiners are openly acting as they please, behaving in defiance of the truce and quartering troops. The police are evacuating small posts, concentrating in the towns. On the other hand the Ulster Volunteers are growing steadily in numbers and preparing for emergencies. SINN FEINERS RELEASED. (Received November 4th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 4. The Sinn Feiners interned in Ballykinlar cimp have been released unconditionally A VOICE FROM THE EAST. (Received November 4th, 7.26 p.m.) TOKYO, November 3. In an interview, Lord Northcliffe, referring to the Irish, question, said: "If Mr de Valera represents majority opinion in Ireland, the latter is asking for trouble." THE LONDON CONFERENCE. LABOTJB JOURNAL'S REPORT. (Received November 4th, 7.25 p.m.) , LONDON, November 4. The "Daily' Herald" (Labour) t eays Mr Lloyd George is making a new at tempt to secure a settlement not conceding the Irish demand for self-deter-mination. His proposals offer the reunion of Ulster with, the South on conI dition that the South abandons the demand for independence and accepts the Dominion status. If the South accepts, and Ulster refuses, he will resign. If Sinn Fein refuses, he will dissolve • Parliament and appeal to the country for a mandate regarding an Irish -war. OBANOE LODGE BESOHTTION. (Received November 4th, 8.10 p.m.) LONDON, November 4. The Grand Orange Lod<re of County Fermanagh, passed a resolution of confidence in the Government of North Ireland, declaring it £ould not submit in any circumstances to separation from the Empire.