"NEARLY BROKEN"

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 110, 10 May 1923, Page 8

"NEARLY BROKEN"

ECCLESIASTICAL POWER IN IRELAND

COMMENT ON LUZIO'S MISSION.

(Received 10th May, 2.45 p.m.)

LONDON, 9th May. The Australian Press Association's Dublin correspondent, dealing with Monsignor Luzio's mission, states that he came to Ireland ostensibly on an ecclesiastical mission, but the real object was to discover a way to peace. The Government from the first suspected Monsignor Luzio of working in the Republican interests; nevertheless he undoubtedy tried his best to secure a cessation of hostilities to enable the Republicans to save their faces. He kept out of the limelight, but the Government was well informed of _ his work, and knew he was trying to bring the strongest ecclesiastical influence to bear on Cabinet to force its hand and make it accept something less than, the complete surrender of the Republicans.

It was largely Monsignor Luzio's representations that led de Valera to issue his peace terms. Monsignor Luzio almost succeeded in getting the Republicans to surrender, but from first to last the Government refused to have anything to do 'with him. The correspondent adds that the mission was a hard one and important, the result proving that ecclesiastical power in Ireland is nearly broken.