ARCHBISHOP MANNIX

Evening Post, Volume C, Issue 36, 11 August 1920, Page 8

ARCHBISHOP MANNIX

AN INTERVIEW IN LONDON

(Received August 11, 2 p.m.) LONDON, 10th August. Archbishop Mannix, interviewed in London, declared that there was more in the Government's action than it wishes the public to l'ealise. The hostility of Mr. Hughes and others like him was due to Dr. Mannix helping to defeat conscription and save democratic Australia from military despotism; ami also to the fact that he had defended Ireland from persistent and systematic vilification in the cables through London, which were the only cables the Australians ever get. The deliberate attempts made to discredit him ip America, had failed. He stood by every syllable of his speeches. Dr. Mannix said that since tbe Battle of Jutland the British Navy had nofe scored a success to be. compared with I the capture of the Archbishop of Melbourne without tbe loss of a single British sailor. Whether the Government's action was legal or not must be considered. In any case it had rendered the British Government in Ireland the laughing-stock of the world. "I still claim the right to go to Ireland, andi intend to press my claim by any means in my power. I expect, and desire 1, no favour or privilege, from the British Government." Unless the Eepnblicon Government intimated that his presence was unwelcome, be would not consider himself, at least, bound not to go to Liverpool, Glasgow, or Manchester; but whether he could defy the orders was another question. "I uin bound to return to Australia. Mr. Hughes is not my superior, 'any more than the Shah of Persia."