ANOTHER VERSION.

Evening Star, Issue 17329, 17 April 1920, Page 6

ANOTHER VERSION.

LONDON, Auril 15. Following the release of 63 Mount joy hunger-strikers last night, there was a big military raid at 2 o’clock in the morning in the neighborhood of Harcourt, where the Sinn Fein quarters are situated. Many houses were visited", and it is reported that there were 100 arrests. Twenty-four more Lunger-strikers were released to-day*

SERENADING PRISONERS.

LONDON, April 15. The Lord Mayor of Cork announced tho release of Sinn -Feiners to a mass meeting in Cork. The audience then marched to the county gaol, where the political offenders wp.re incarcerated, and played and sang Siam Fein songs, the prisoners welcoming them and waving flags from the windows. IRISH LABOR’S POLICY. LONDON, Anril 15. The Irish Trado Onion Congress manifesto congratulates the workers on showhow they can impose their will on the authorities, and .urges the workers to prevent- tho exportation of foodstuffs until the restoration of normal supplies, which are hindered by tho stoppage of transport. RESIGNATIONS PENDING. LONDON. April 15. The newspapers generally consider that the prisoners release marks an entire change in tho Government’s Irish policy. Mr Lloyd George* is personally responsible for the change. Lord French, Mr J. I. Maqpherson (exChief Secretary), and Sir John Taylor (Permanent Under-Secretary) are generally held responsible for the earlier policy. Mr Macpherson has already resigned, and Lord French is likely to follow. It is rumored'that- Sir John Taylor will have a colonial appointment. ■ The ‘ Evening Standard ’ says in connection with tho releases that Lord French alone was responsible. Sir Nevil Macready. as commander of the. forces, cannot direct or initiate a policy, and cannot act without Lord French's knowledge. A CLASH IN COUNTY CLARE. LONDON, April 15. The police and tho military were involved in a collision with civilians at Miltaw n Mai hay. County Clare. Three civilians were killed and nine wounded. There arc no details. BEFORE THE RELEASE. THE GOVERNMENT’S VACILLATION. LONDON, April 15. The situation at the Mount joy Prison was perplexing through the afternoon a'nd evening, and it was not until 60 or 70 hunger-strikers had been carried to a hospital between 9 o’clock and midnight that it was certain that the Government had reversed their policy, and released tho Sinn Feiners unconditionally. Throughout there was intense excitement. The strike at Dublin liberated the entire working population, and tho majority of them gathered in the vicinity of the prison, not knowing whether the strike had achieved, its purpose. There was wild excitement when it became certain that the men had been released without parole, but the vast crowd was instantly quiet when the ambulances appeared carrying the men to the hospitals. ‘.Sir Nevil Macready is credited with the responsibility for tho dramatic reversal of tho Government’s policy. It is believed that he told Lord French that he must- have a clear field as Commander-in-Chief. Sir Nevil’s representations were submitted to Downing street-, and resulted in a repudiation of what the Front Bench had said in the House of Commons 24 hours earlier. It is understood that Sir Hamar Greenwood, the new Chief Secretary, also expressed a. desire that the hunger-strike should be got out of the way before ho took up the reins of the Chief Secretaryship. J Some papers state that Viscount Fren'ch is coming to London to consult the Government relative to the responsibilities of Sir Nevil Macready and himself. The Daily Chronicle ’ is of the opinion that Dublin Castle rule is not the Government’s policy. Sir N. Macready and Sir Harnar Greenwood have been given full power to pave the way for a reconciliation, and for making the Home Rule Bill possible.