TRUCE IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 249, 15 July 1920, Page 7

TRUCE IN IRELAND

DEMANDED BY TRADES UNION CONGRESS STRIKE BALLOT DECIDED UPON By Telegraph-Press Associtttion-Oopyrißhi (Rec. July 14, 11.10 p.m.) London, July 13. Eight hundred delegates, representing 5,000,000 members, attended a special Trades Union Congress to discuss Ireland. The liveliest debate resulted in a proposal immediately to down tools to enforce the withdrawal of troops being decisively defeated. Tho various unions then offered panaceas, tho debate finally ranging round tho National Union of Railwaymcn's resolution, proposing a truce in Ireland, Sinn Fein stopping murder and outrages, and the Government withdrawing) the Army of Occupation, when a truco was secured an Irish Parliament to be created with full dominion powers. Mr. J. H. Thomas (secretary of tho Raihyaymen's Union), supporting the resolution, said thcro were powerful influences at Westminster whoso only ticsire was to encourage a fight to a Inish. Mr. Bromley, on behalf of the locomotive engineers, said tho most humane thing would be to say to Ireland: "If you will not listen to reason we wash our hands of the country." The railwaymen's resolution was (i/r----ried by 1,953,0C0 votes to 1,759,000. Mr. R. Smillie (president of the Miners' Federation) complained that there was nothing in the railwaymen's resolution to meet the situation if tne Government declined. "I don't recommend direct action for fun," lie said, ''but in order to save our brothers in Ireland." A delegate from the Cotton Operatives' Union opposed a "down tooiis" policy, because it was exceedingly dangerous, and no one knew where it -would end. The miners' resolution in favour of a strike ballot to enforce the demands relating to Ireland and Russia was carried by 2,760,000 votes to 1,736,000. Loud cheers greeted the announcement of the figures. In i-esponso to questions m to what the votings implied, Air. Thomas, chairman, explained that if the Government refused to agree to the railwaymen's resolution, thon that of tl\p miners would coma into operation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. POLICE CATaMBUSHED TWO CONSTABLES KILLED. (Bee. July U. 11.35 p.in.) London, July 13. An armed party ambushed a police motor-car between Cloghane and Dingle, in County Kerry, shot dead two constables and seriously wounded j, police inspector and ft chauffeur. The r.vidcrs stole arms and ammunition—Auvs.-N.Z Cable Assn. SMUGGLING ARMsli LETTERS FOR IRELAND SEAFARING MEN SENT TO PRISON. (Rec. July 14, 11.35 p.m.) London, July 13. Barry, a fireman on an Atlantic liner, aas been sentenced at Bow Street to tw{> months' imprisonment for bringing eignt etters t6 England otherwise than ; "rough the post. Tho prosecution s-iid A\at Bany was in close touch with Irish revolutionaries in America. The cor•espondence included a letter from do Valera denying that he was improperly spending Sinn Fein funds William Barry, a member of the crew 3f nn Atlantic liner, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment on a charge if smuggling arms and munitions for treland.-Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Aesn.