IRISH CONFERENCE.

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1922, Page 5

IRISH CONFERENCE.

I ELECTION DODGE EAILS. [A. and N. Z. Cabin Association! LONDON, April 29. The Lord Mayor of Dublin’s peace conference, consisting of the Archbishop of Dublin, Messrs De Valera, Brougha, Griffiths, Collins, and representatives of Labour lias dissolved, failing to reach the basis of an agreement. After three hours’ discussion, the Provisional Government submitted three proposals. Firstly, an election to be held in June on the treaty and constitution, the opponents agreeing not to attempt to obstruct. After the election, the Dail Eireann to be dissolved and another election to be held to ratify or reject the constitution; secondly, an election be held in June on the treaty issue only; thirdly, a plebiscite of adults for the acceptance or the rejection of the treaty. REPUBLICANS JcAISE MONEY. BANKS RAIDED. (Received May 2 at 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. A number of armed Irregulars, with a motor lorry, drew up in front of the Bank of Ireland in Mitchelstown, County Cork, and demanded all the money. The officials handed over £lO,OOO. The leader then gave them a receipt, and drovb off. Other armed men also raided banks at Ennis, Westport, Sligo, Balli nrobe, and Claremonis, and held up the staffs, and carried off in motor cars sums aggregating over £20,000. The railway between Carick-on-Suir and Waterford City was torn up, and roads in the same district were trenched and blocked by trees. PROTESTANT REFUGEES. LONDON, May 2. A number of Protestant refugees from County Cork arc arriving in Belfast. REPUBLICANS READY FOR ACTION (Received May 2, 11.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. Latest reports from Dublin indicate that intense preparations are being made. They are for some unknown objective. Railway and road communication in some places has been cut off. Trains from Tipperary and Thurles were held up amidst scenes of the greatest excitement. Roads in the vicinities of Ballybrophy, Limerick, Etemplore, and Clonmel were blocked. Two mansions at Castlebar and Rouborough were seized, and the owners evicted. (Received* May 2, 9.20 p.m.) LONDON, May 2. In Ireland the bank robberies have been among the most sensational incidents. Since the inception of the Republicans’ rebellion, more than £60,000 has been carried off, including in Sligo £14,000, in Wexford £lO,OOO, in Ballina £lO,OOO, and in Limerick £3,5000. Sums stolen at Ennis, Waterford, Tralee and Mallow are considerable, but the amount is not stated. Only one case of violence occurred, when Gardiner, a bank agent at Westport, resisted. The robber mutineers seized the offices of Dublin Port Dock Board, which commands O’Connell Bridge. AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT. WITHIN IRISH RANKS. (Received May 2, 9. 10 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. An interesting document has been issued, signed by representatives of the Free State regular soldiers, including : Michael Collins, and the irregular sections of the Irish Republican Army, appealing for the closing of the army ranks, to avoid any conflict, and suggesting a unification of the forces on a basis of an acknowledgment of a majority of the Irish people to accept the treaty. Mr De Valera has simultaneously issued a statement that Mr Griffith’s proposals for a peace conference have involved the acceptance of the partition of Ireland. Mr De Valera’s pro- I posal is that the treaty be referred to the people at the expiration of six months, wherein the army will be unified. He says the Daily Eirean should be I kept in session and adult suffrage passed. There were certain rights, he added, which a minority were justified in defending by force of arms.