MILITARY STORES IN IRELAND.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17394, 3 March 1922, Page 8

MILITARY STORES IN IRELAND.

STATEMENT BY ME OHUEOHHiL. (Br Cable—Press Association— CopyrigiM.) (Reuter'a Telegram*.) (Received March 3rd, 1 a.m.) LONDON, March 1. In the House of Commons, Viscount Curzon (Co. Unionist, Battersea) affirmed tliat the agents of the Irish Provisional Government to whom the British Government was. handing over stores belonged to the Irish Republican air Winston Churchill replied that he assumed the personnel of the ; forces which the Provisional Governmont was creating was largely drawn from the Republican Army. It. was impossible for the Government to refuse to have dealings with such persons, but all such ! dealings would be with accredited agents of 'the Provisional Government. Replying to Major-General Sir J. H. Davidson, (Co. Unionist, Hants); Mr Churchill admitted \ that over 80,000 rounds of ammunition. and a large quantity of stores were stolen at Clonmel. but by a portion of the Republican Army which was openly defiant towards -the Provisional Government. He refused to give an undertaking that no further stores of ammunition Vould be handed over to the Provisional Government. He was certain that a very limited quantity of the arms handed over to the Provisional Government had. been .used to equip their, forces, and was in the hands of persons obeying 'the orders of that Government;