GOVERNMENT'S INDIRECT NEGOTIATIONS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 63, 8 December 1920, Page 7

GOVERNMENT'S INDIRECT NEGOTIATIONS

CHANNELS OF COMMUNICATION . WITH SINN FEIN LEADERS. London, December G. "The Times" confirms a report that the Government is'carrying on indirect regulations with the Sinn Fein loaders. At least four channels have been open during tho last month. Mr. A Henderson has iin unofficial mandate from the Prime Minister to explore avenues of peace. It is impossible yet to say whether this will lead to a basis of settlement; but tho Government has other views for the guidance of tho Irish situation besides thoie of Dublin Castle.—"The Times," DIRECT NEGOTIATIONS EXPECTED. London, December (j. The "Evening News" says there is a growing belief tlfnt peace negotiations with the Sinn Fein will be opened almost immediately. It is believed that the arrest of Mr. A. Griffith, M.P., is part of a plan to euablo him to discuss pcaco 6afely and freely. Women are taking a prominent part in Iroiand' in "carrying on" after men have been arrested, Sovoral now preside at the Sinn Fein Courts. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. EXTENT OF THE PROGRESS ' VIEWS OF THiTIONDON PRESS. (Ree. December 7, 8.10 p.m.) London, December 7. Tho newspapers variously describe the extent of real progress towards Irish negotiations. The "Dally News," which is most hopeful, says, the' Prime Minister and other Ministers have been strongly discussing.the subject with more or less representative Irishmen,' who' aro not deeply implicated in party politics. The paper says that much is happening behind the scenes, and attaches importance to the Prime Minister's breakfasting with Mr. G. W. Russell, but tho "Daily Chronicle" says that Mr. Russell, as a representative Irishman, does not count. Another Irishman lately active in exploring the situation is Sir Horace Plunkett. The "Daily News" says the Parliamentary atmosphere, apart from Ulster Unionists, is most sympathetic. Even the Conservatives aro pleased at the Prime Minister's leaning towards peace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. IMPORTANT SUBJECTS INVOLVED SUGGESTED LINEs'oF PROCEDURE. (Rec. December 7, 8.15 p.m.) London, December 7. The "Daily News," which has been the earliest and strongest adjocate of Christmas peace-making, believes that progress is being made, but points out. that a truce must first lie arranged, involving th 9 settlement of important subjects such ns the murder campaign, tho withdrawal of military, and the the release of many Sinn Foiners-. Only then could negotiation for settlement begin, but any discussion could not include the question of a rogublic. That subject, was barred. The most hopeful lines of procedure would bo tho exclusion of Ulster and ths grunt of fiscal autonomy to Lha Dublin Parliftniant. The "Morning Post" refers to the subject ns "the -Prime Minister's parley with the. organisers of murder," and says: "Fiseo.l autonomy means tho independence of Ireland. Any serious proposal in that direction would wreck the Coalition, The rank and file of .the Unionist Parly has stoqjl a good deal, but will not stand surrender."—Aub.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FATHER O'FLANAGAN'S AUTHORITY STATEMENT BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE (Reo. December 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, December (1. Lieut.-Commandor Ke.iworthy asked Mr. Lloyd George whether Father O-'Flanagan spoke with authority. Mr. Lloyd George replied: "That is what I want to know. The Government is prepared to discuss with anybody authorised to speak for Ire> laud proposals which would bring peace." —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPUDIATION BY DUBLIN COUNCIL Con'don, December C. The Sinn Fein Divisional Council in Dublin has repudiated the peaco negotiu tions with England, and has declared that any person discussing terms with a fureign Government, unless authorised by the Dail Eireann, will be guilty of treachery.—Reutor. HOME RULE BILL ANOTHER AMENDMENT BY HOUSE OF LORDS. (Reo. December 7, 5.5 p.m.) London, December 7. The House of Lords, by 51 votes to 50, carried the Marquis (( Salisbury's' motion deleting the clause in the Home Rule Bill providing Crown colony Governinont for southern Ireland.—Aus.-N.Z. CaLlo Assn. DUBLIN CORPORATION RAIDED SIX ARRESTS MADE. ' London, December 0. The polico raided a meeting of the Dublin Corporation, and arrested Mr. Stnines, the Sinn Fein M.P., and live councillors— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MANAGERS OF "FREEMAN'S JOURNAL" GUILTY OF SPREADING FALSE REPORT. (Rec. December 7, 7.25 p.m.) London, December (i. A court-martial found flic managers of "Freeman's Journal" guilty of spreading a, false report intended to "cause disaffection. The accused wero taken to Mounljoy Prison pending sentence being passed. —Aiis.-N.Z. Cubic Assn. [Tho first prosecution of a newspaper under the Coercion Act is announced, wrote the Dublin correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian" on October 20. Co.Dta.rn Martin, of the Hoadquarters Staff, Dublin, called at the offices of the "Freeman's Jtnmial," and served amim-

mons on the- directors and secretary of the "freeman's Journal" (1919),. Ltd., ordering them to appear ah the military headquarters, Dublin district, before Captain Maittin, to prepare tho summary of evidence which is /.Iho preliminary to every court martial- Mr. Fitzgerald (director) was called upon by this summons to answer a chargo of having in tho "Freeman's Journal' committed the following offences under the Restoration of Order in Ireland regulations:—(J) In a paragraph headed Black and Tans Blamed'': Komarkulnc story of Tullow shootings, published in tho lato city edition of the said journal, daitod September : ID, 1920, spreading false reports contrary to Regulation No. 27a. (2) In Ithe said paragraph above referred to, making statements likely to cause disaffection to His Majesty, contrary to Regulation No. 27b. The officer also had n summons which he wished to servo on Mr. Hamilton Edwards, Mr. Fitzgerald's co-director of tho company, but Mr. Edwards was not on the preun.-es, being absent from Dublin. Tho third *.opy of the summons was left for the secretary of the company. Section 27a of the regulations under the Restoration of Order Act states that no person shall "spread false reports or make folsa statements," and section 27b that no porson "shall spread reports or make 'statements intended or likely to cause disaffection to His "Majesty's forces or of tho forces of any of His Majesty's Allies by land or sea, or to prejudice His .Majesty's relations with lorcign Powers." Tho paragraph' referred to in the summons appeared., in tho "Freeman's Journal" of September 16, and ran:—"A gentleman who has arrived in Dublin affter a tour of Carlow and Kilkenny, in the course of-which ho was in contact with people of different classes in both counties, states that the general belief in Tullow district is that tho ftvo policemen who were shot there wcro the victims of an attack by T3lack and Tans.' Both men had sent in their resignations some time before. They were shot by masked men. It is believed in Kilkenny that the recent raid of the mails there was also by 'Black and Tans.' "1 POLICE AMBUSHED A CONSTABLE TTOUNDED IN A BRISK FIGHT. (Bee. December 7, 7.25 p.m.) London, December G. Ten police in a motor-lorry were ambushed at Clonakilty. In n" brisk ftght a constable was wounded. Two others summoned reinforcements, which arrived to find the attackers gone.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.