SITUATION IN IRELAND.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17428, 12 April 1922, Page 7

SITUATION IN IRELAND.

REPUBLICAN MOVEMENT. ' ATTITUDE OP BRITISH GOVERNMENT. IB- Ca'oic—Press Association—Copyright.) (Australian ar.d X.Z. Cable Association.) (Received April 11th. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON. April 10. Tho Belfast correspondent of the "Daily Express'' learns antiicritatively that Mr Michael Collins has requested Britain to retain the remainder of the British troops in the south of Ireland, where the position is serious. It is stated that Mr de Valera may possibly declare a republic during Easter on the anniversary of the first Sinn Fein rebellion (1916). » Mr Winston Churchill, replying U> a question in the House of Commons, said the Government's pledge not to recognise the Irish Republic still held good. If the situation changed with great suddenuess, the Government must bo trusted to deal with it. He believed the Provisional Government was doing its utmost to carry out the agreement and to end the boycott against Belfast. The Imperial Government could not intervene' at present. LAWLESSNESS AND REPRESSION. REBEL TACTICS. (Received April 11th, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. "While Mr G. Gavan Duffy, Minister of Foreign Affairs the Provisional Government, was addressing; a meeting at Tullamore, Republicans rushed the plutform' and overturned the Press tables. They seized Mr Duffy and dragged him from the platform, amid cries of "Up, de Valera!" "Up, the Republic!" When Judge Cooke attended the Lifford Courthouse to open the Donegal Sessions he found armed Republicans in possession. They refused him admission to the Court. Two armed women held up a Donegal train at Cresslough and seized and burned Belfast and Derry newspapers. CHURCH WRECKED IN BELFAST. (Received April llth, 0.0 p.m.) LONDON, April 10. Sinn Feiners wrocked the Albert street Presbyterian Church in Belfast and smashed the communion plate. The church is now useless for service.