ENGLISH VIEW OF THE IRISH COALITION

Grey River Argus, 26 May 1922, Page 5

ENGLISH VIEW OF THE IRISH COALITION

REPUBLIC BECOMES AGAIN THE QUESTION. THE DE VALERA-COLLINS COALITION. ENGLISH PAPER’S HOSTILE CRITICISM. [Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.] ■ Blake has proceeded as far as Prance on his world flight, and delays there a day to fix his machine. Last year the New Zealand revenue fell by over £6,000,0C n , while the £17,000,000 surplus of 1920 21 has shrunk by £10,000,000. U.S.A, reports Britain, France and other Powers are developing new poison gases in view of war possibilities, while U.S.A, has a new phosgene gas shell. English criticism of the Irish coalition continues, a paper declaring the issue now is whether or not Britain is to recognise an Irish republic. Collins says stable conditions have been secured, enabling Ireland to face other obstacles. Ulster Government, morally supported by British Ministers and military heads, continues arrests, while Ulster Sinn Feiners are reported to be attacking Protestants... While Italy has concluded with Russia a straight-out trade treaty Britain proposes to finance British capitalists trading with Russia. A French paper expects Germany to produce acceptable indemnity proposals this month. Forty-seven unions of British engineers now locked out are balloting on the employers’ terms. Australian shearers are solidly behind the A.W.U. in the strike for conditions as good as Queensland’s. U.S.A, interests are seeking to retain the Oceanic Co.’s shipping service between ’Frisco and Sydney. A disease is destroying N.S.W. banana crops. Wreckage, marked “M,” possibly the Manurewa’s is being found on the New South Wales coast. Wellington wool sales yesterday showed a further rise in prices. Bottomley is very demonstrative at his trial on fraud charges. LOX DOX, May 24. The “Daily Telegraph's" Dublin correspondent says: “Tuesday's meeting of the Sinn Fein Convention elucidated some aspects of the (ollins-De \ alera pact. It is evident that I lie Imperial Government will be confronted with a demand froin the whole forces of the Dail Eiroaini for the acknowledgment of Ireland not only as a Sovereign Slate, hut as an independent republic, Mr De T alera showed that there will be no freedom of election. The candidates who stand against the members’ panel will he treated as enemies. A significant passage in his speech was: “Conditions here in the South prevent us from concentrating on the position in the north-eastern corner.' ’ Mr Collins said: If this agreement imperils the treaty, we have made an agreement which brings stable conditions, we must face what these stable conditions will enable ns to lace.' lie continued that at present the six counties were making a last desperate stand for their ascendaiv'y, but if they are confronted with the united national voice of all Ireland which thinks as we do. Ulster cannot ignore that voice. In speaking with that national, it does not matter whether we support tin treaty or not. We support anti-partition. Our foremost need is unity. If faced with any situation in i be north-cast, we shall be muted to face that, and also united- to face any situation that comes to us from outside, or from any other quarters. (Cheers.J THE IRISH CONFERENCE AT LONDON. LONDON PAPER’S STATEMENT OF ISSUES. (Received May 25, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 25. Mr Michael < ’ollins is unlikely to accompany Mr Arthur Griffiths and Mi- Duggan at their emiference with Mr Churchill at London on Friday. The London “Daily Chronicle" says:—“The. British Cabinet is facing many serious Irish issues. Firstly, is the one as to whether the treaty is upset, as the result of Mr Collins’s and Mr De Valera’s pact, secondly, whether a republic is now likely to be declared in Southern Ireland; in which case, the British Government will either be compelled to recognise it, or to resume the functions of Government there, and thirdly, how is this to he done? Ulster Repudiation of Boundary Commission. The “Daily Chronicle” says that the British Cabinet’s view regarding Sir James Craig’s repudiation of the Ulster Boundary Commission, is that if the Irish Free State constitution is established, a Boundary Commission is inevitable.

THE ANGLO-ULSTER CAMPAIGN UNMASKED LOXDOX, May 21. Sir J. Craig, speaking in the Northern ( Lister) Parliament, said that the whole Irish situation had been changed by the i ollins-De Valera pact. Ulster was now prepared to meet what had been arranged behind the scenes. The immediate result of the pact, he said, was that Ulster would not have any Boundary Commission under any circumstance whatever. Sir James continued: “What we have, we hold, and will hold, despite all combinations and opposition.” As for the future, he continued, Ulster would require military. If there were any invasion, the most satisfactory arrangements wore completed with the British Government. Ulster bad only to ask for more regiments and she would get them. “Although,” he said. “1 am prepared to treat with the Southern representatives who are within the ambit of the Empire, I am not prepared to treat with a composite Government., whereof one-half is practically Republican, while ihc/other half is represented by men whose view is that the treaty is a,.,step towards a republic.”

ENGLISH CABINET PLAYS ULSTER’S GAME s • LONDON. May 24. The Collins-De Valera pact, coupled with the Northern Government’s energetic action against the campaign of murder, has resulted in a crisis of which the consequences defy analysis. The English Cabinet members take the gravest view of the new political situation in Ireland. Air Lloyd George, Mr Chamberlain, Lord Birkenhead. Mr Churchill, Sir L. Worthington Evans, and Sir 11. Greenwood held a hurriedly arranged conference, frequently calling in Genera] Macßeady and other administrators during the proceedings, the character of.which, though obviously most important, did not. transpire. I A “Daih Mail” message slates that Ihe English Cabinet Committee for Ireland considered the (’ollinsDe Valera agreement, and decided that while they would make every effort to come to an understanding, the real issue cannot b'j shirked. The British (tovernment must face the responsibility frankly and let Collins and his associates realise there is a point beyond which the Government cannot go. This view is supported by the military authorities. ULSTER GOVERNMENT CONTINUES ARRESTS. LONDON, May 24. Arrests of Sinn Feiners continue, but a number of wanted men are now fleeing to the Free State. The proclaimed organisations are the Republican Army, Republican Brotherhood, Irish Volunteers, and the Fianna, which is a women’s and youths’ society, also the C’umann na L-Blian, which is an organisation solely, of women. Ulster Cabinet decrees that all persons who are members of these Irish Nationalist organisations are liable to prosecution in Ulster. Figures of the Sinn Fein arrests were exaggerated. In the round-up to-day between 300 and 100 more were taken into custody. Major-General Solly Flood has been appointed to command the entire Ulster Constabulary. Regarding the arrest of 1500 men, the Ulster Government’s police laid its plains so carefully that not a hint of the c<>u.p reached those wanted. The bigencircling movement commenced throughout six counties at 4 o’clock in the morning. Houses were rapidly and efficiently visited, and practically every Sinn Fein officer on the list was arrested. Garron Towers, Cushendal, which has been burned, belonged to Mr Winston Churchill who inherited it from Lord \ ane Tempest a year ago. An aeroplane bomb thrown in from the street, exploded in the Gaiety Theatre, Belfast*, but little damage was done. Armed men seized a tramcar in Falls Road, Belfast, sprinkled it with petrol and burned it. i CRAIG’S PRETENCE AT A DECENT BUDGET. LONDON, May 24. The Northern Parliament’s first budget estimates the revenue at £13,708,000, with a surplus of £119,000. No new taxation is proposed. Seven-eighths of the taxes were imposed by the Imperial Government. | The expenditure on special constabulary is estimated , at £2,000,000. WILL GERMANY FORK OUT ON TIME? [Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.] PARIS, May 24. “Lc Temps” says: There is good reason to believe that the German Government will, before May 31, produce acceptable reparation proposals.

THE DOMINION’S FINANCES GETTING-WORSE. | Per Press Association.] WF.LLIXGTON. May 25. A statement of the receipts and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund for the year ended March 31 last, is published in to-night's "Gazette.” It shows a failing off on ordinary revenue of £6,193.000. The principal revenue decreases are: Customs £3..31 .>,000; income tax, £2.246,000; stamp duties, L;<)(!.()O(); railways. 1'235,000; land tax, £51.000. 'The Post and Telegraph revenue, shows an increase of £lOB.OOO. The beer duty increased £98.000. The balance* at the beginning of last year was £8,;)91,208, as against a balance of £17,538,176 for the previous year. The total receipts for the year were .1'38,361.151, as compared with £54,249,938 for 1920-21. On the expenditure side, the permanent appropriations show an increase of £639,000, mainlv under the heading of interest and sinking fund. The subsidies to local bodies, etc., show increases of £lO,OOO and .1'7(1, 0(l(J respectively. The Animal appropriations expenditure shows a decrease of £241,000. The balance at the beginning of the current year (1922-23) was £7,531,366,-as against £8,591,208 at the beginning of 1921-22.

THE FIRST STAGE OF THE WORLD FLIGHT [Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.] (Received May 25, 7.10 p.m.) LONDON, May 24. Blake, who has started on his world flight, cables as follows: The first 300 miles of the 30,000 has been comfortably covered. The first of the expected 78 landings was at Le Bourget. The engine has been running perfectly. The only trouble is a slight inclination of the machine to he tail-heavy. This will easily be righted, but it will make me decide not to g<> on to-morrow, as J. want the bus to be as perfect as possible. The 24 hours' delay means nothing. “Festina lente” is a good motto for the world .journey. THE AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRIAL STRUGGLE. [Australian and New Zealand Cable Association.] (Received May 25, 9. 5 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 25. Advices received by the Australian Workers’ Union from the country centres state that the shearers intend to stand solidly behind the executive of tl/; A.W.U. for the same rates and conditions as those allowed in the Queensland award. The Unemployment Relief Committee at Lithgow, N.S.W., are considering the adoption of a scheme providing for declaring Saturday a nondrinking day, and for placing collectors outside all the hotels to endeavour to induce the habitues of hotels to give money for the benefit of those who are in want of bread instead of spending any on beer. The management of the Wallsend Colliery have given the men 14 days’ notice that they intend to close down the mine indefinitely, owing to slackness of trade. About 551) miners will he rendered idle. LOCKED-OUT ENGINEERS TAKE FRESH BALLOT LONDON, May 24. At the.conclusion of the live hours’ conference, the executives of the 47 unions involved in the engineering dispute announced that it had been decided to submit the employers’ proposals to a ballot. The papers will go out during the week-end and are returnable by J une 2. Members will be recommended to give the matter their very serious consideration.