IRISH SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 7

IRISH SITUATION

RESPONSIBILITY FOR CORK FIRES PREMIER’S STATEMENTCRITICISED By Telegraph—Press Assoc ; atiou-Copyright. London, February 17. The "Leader” says that the Premier, in his speech on the situation in Ireland, attempted to brazen out the situation, and denied a satisfactory explanation. From the first there was little doubt that the burnings in Cork were due to the Crown forces,’ and the Irish administration must bear tho stain of lasting disgrace,* which cannot fail to react on the good repute of England. The authors of the present policy of administration are directly blameable for connivance in rendering the burnings at Cork possible. Their offence is morally no less grave than that of the criminals who actually perpetrated arson. The present administration has long since forfeited all claim to public confidence, either in its desire or ability to maintain tho high traditions of tho British Government. The Premier’s speech was nothing less than a confession of failure of the Irish policy. The path to truce negotiations was through Archbishop Clune. It was the right path, but appears to have been deliberately blocked at the critical moment. Is it not possible for it to be reopened?—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. A FAKED INTERVIEW DENIAL BY ARCHBISHOP CLUNE. Fremantle, February 18. Archbishop Clune, who is a passenger by the Osterley, emphatically denied that the interviews regarding the Irish position cabled to Australia before he left Great Britain took place. In one alleged interview with Mr. Lloyd George supposed questions and answers were cabled. This was entirely without foun-dation.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. (A message from Paris, published last month, stated: —“Liberte" publishes an interview with tho Roman Catholic Archbishop of Perth (Dr. Clune), who has been acting as a mediator between the British Government and Sinn Fein. Dr. Clune said that he believed that the attitude of the Prime Minister (Mr. Lloyd George) towards Ireland was sincere, and that he really desired peace “Unfortunately," he added, “several members of the Cabinet' and of Parliament, including the Lord Privy Seal (Mr. Bonar Law), were not of the same opinion. They said that the British people would not be satisfied with any truce which was negotiated before the Irish laid down their arms. The Com-mander-In-Chief (Sir Nevil Macready) also favoured continuing the struggle. Mr. Lloyd George then changed his tone. Ho intimated to me that no truce could be considered while the Irish remained in arms. The Sinn Fein leaders refused to disarm until they were granted some concession. They therefore refused the Prime Minister’s offer to negotiate a truce. For that reason my mission failed.” The Archbishop expressed admiration of the Sinn Feinere. He said that when Mr. Lloyd George described them ns murderers he replied: "No, not murderers, but the cream of theii race.” Dr. Clune continued: “Tho British soldiers and the ‘Black and Tans’ (Royal Irish constabulary auxiliaries) are absolutely inhuman. The soldiers and officers shoot and pillage as they please. If they continue, Ireland will be only a heap of ashes. The battlefields of Belgium and the Somme are not ' worse than some parts of Ireland.” Dr. Clune, who considers himself an impartial witness, said that he hoped to convey the same information to the Pope.j THE SHOOTINGS AT MALLOW INQUIRY PROCEEDING. London, February 17. Answering a’question in the House of Commons, Sir Hamar Greenwood informed Mr. Thomas that the inquiry into tho shootings at Mallow was proceeding. Interested parties, including the 1 Railwaymen’s Union, could be legally represented. He -would not givb a pledge that the findings would lie pub-lished.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RAILWAYMEN NOT TO STRIKE. (Rec. February 18, 11.35 p.m.) London, February 17. The Society of Locomotive and Firemen has telegraphed to Mr. Lloyd George that in the public ... rerest, and to facilitate the inquiry by the Million* Committee, the committee has decided to instruct members not to strike without further instructions. — Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE MOURNE ABBEY AMBUSH AN OFFICIAL ACCOUNT. London, February 17. The official account of the ambush at Mourns Abbey, near Mallow, states that the patrol surprised two mon digging on the road, and proceeded to arrest them, when they discovered forty civilians in ambush. The latter were intercepted, and eight were killed- and others seen to fall.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ALLEGATIONS AGAINST TROOPS LETTER FROM DE VALERA TO BRITISH M.P.’S. London, February 17. De Valera has addressed a letter to all tho British members of the House ot Commons, in which he accuses the troops in Ireland of torturing prisoners, assass. i.nating men and boys, murdering -women and children, outraging women and girls, (togging civilians, enforcing crawling and other degrading orders, and forcing men to work in slave gangs. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THEFTS BY CONSTABULARY. London, February 17. O’Hara and Myers, of the Royal Irish Constabulary, pleaded guilty at a courtmartial in Waterford to eight charges of larceny. The police gave evidence that accused admitted robberies of money and jewellery during raids on various houses. --Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. • MURDERS OF CROWN FORCES (Rec. February 18, 11.35 p.m.) London, February 17. In answering questions in the House of Commons, Sir Hamar Greenwood said that fifty-six members of the Crown forces in Ireland had been assassinated since December 22. During December and January forty members of the Crown forces had been killed and 129 wounded.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SINN FEIN M.P.’S TWENTY-TWO IN CUSTODY’. (Rec. February 19, 1.10 a.m.) London, February IS. N. J. Crowley, M.P. for Kerry, has. been arrested in Dublin. There are’ now twenty-two Sinn Fein members of the House of Commons in custody.—Aus.NZS. Cable Assn. OUTRAGES IN CORK BRIDGES DESTROYED BY EXPLOSIVE’S. London, February 17. All bridges within an eight miles radius of Skibbercen were completely destroyed last night by powerful c-xplo sives. Similar outrages are reported from Bantry and elsewhere in County Cork. The military commandeered men in the district, and are compelling them to repair the bridges.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.