ULTIMATUM TO BRITAIN

Dominion, Volume 32, Issue 113, 6 February 1939, Page 9

ULTIMATUM TO BRITAIN

Purported To Be From The I.R.A. FOUR DAYS TO REMOVE TROOPS (Received February 5, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 4. The “Daily Herald” alleges that the I.R.A. presented an ultimatum to Lord Halifax on January 12, giving Britain four days to remove troops from Ireland. It recalls that the first bomb explosions occurred on January 16, which was on the expiration of the time-limit. A letter signed by Mr. Patrick Fleming, secretary, on behalf of the Government and the Army Council of the 1.R.A., declared: “British forces are an active incitement to turmoil and civil strife, being both the symbol of hostile occupation and potential invaders. We will regret if this fundamental condition is ignored, and we are compelled to intervene actively in the military and commercial life of your country as your Government is now intervening in ours. The Government of the Irish Republic believes that four days is sufficient for your Government to signify its intentions regarding military evacuation, and issue a declaration of abdication respecting Ireland. Our Government reserves the right to take appropriate action upon the expiration of this period of grace, if the conditions are not fulfilled.” Police are not only most active, in London, where members of the flying squad are travelling in disguised cars, with ramshackle bodies and anti-crime equipment, but they have searched 30 houses in Manchester. Similar activity in Liverpool has resulted in two arrests. Letter Received. Official circles in Whitehall confirm the report that Lord Halifax received a letter purporting to be from the 1.R.A., but refuse to make a statement. . The Foreign Office later disclosed that it was an “ultimatum” which was dated January 12. They passed the letter on to various departments, including the Dominions Office. It is now in the possession of the Home Office, which is dealing with it. The “Daily Mail” says that large stocks of explosives are missing from British factories and Scotland Yard has reason to believe that an explosion might be the signal for a national demonstration by wreckers. Members of the House of Commons who raised the question of Irish connexion with the explosions have been anonymously warned to be careful what they are doing. The Houses of Parliament, as a precautionary measure, were closed to the public today. After Friday’s bombings, Sir Thomas Moore, M.P., tabled a motion adding to the Criminal Justice Bill provision to enable corporal punishment to be imposed for the manufacture, distribution and placing of explosives for the purpose of destroying life and property. It is understood that detectives in London discovered important clues, which have been handed over to the political department. The search so far has covered more than 100 addresses in London. A special guard is stationed at Government Buildings. A guard of police pensioners has been re-established at Westminster Abbey, and precautions have been taken at Windsor Castle. Michael Lyons, described as a clerk,

was remanded at Bow Street on a charge of having explosives in his possession. Police gave evidence that they found seven hiyid-grenades and 11 cartridges in his garden at Stamford Hill, with newspaper cuttings indicating Irish Republican sympathies. They said that Lyons had been in touch with people already charged. John Gavahan was arrested at Manchester on a charge of conspiring with Patrick Walsh and others to cause an explosion at Manchester. A. police superintendent alleged that Gavahan said: “Although you have got us the cause will go on. Something will probably happen in Liverpool tonight.” ’ Two Irishmen, Michael Mason, engineer’s fitter ,and Joseph Walker, labourer, were arrested at Liverpool on a charge of having in their possession six electrical leads, similar to those found in Manchester at the time of the outrages, also a large quantity of documents, to which considerable Importance is attached, leading to grater charges later.