SIB NEVILLE MACREADY'S PROCLAMATION.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 15 December 1920, Page 7

SIB NEVILLE MACREADY'S PROCLAMATION.

NO QUARREL WITH IRISHMEN

TO END DISORDER

LABOUR COMMISSION'S VIEWS. (Received Dec. 15. 11.25 a.m.) (Times Service.) LONDON, Dec. 14. Sir Neville Maoready has issued a proclamation in martial law districts l saying that Irishmen will understand j this:—Great Britain has not a quarrel with Irishmen. Her sole quarrel is j with crime, outrage, and disorder, and' her sole object is to restore peace' in the distracted, unhappy "country, the sole enemies of which are those who countenanced, inspired, and participated in rebellion and outrage. It is to! end once and for all the campaign of i outrage that martial law has been declared. The proclamation published names the military governors and announces the death penalty for refusal to stfrrender arms, ammunition, or explosives, or illegally wearing naval or military uniforms. It concludes: "Note well that a stat|> of armed insurrection exists, and any person participating orj harbouring, inviting, aiding or. abet-' ting other persons in participation are j guilty of levying war against hisi Majesty the King, and is liable to death. The Crown forces in Ireland are hereby declared on active service." The British Labour Commission has returned %o Dublin. The chairman, Sir. Cameron, in a statement said that the commission's outstanding impressions were that the population were in a j state of terror. Not infrequently the Crown forces appear to be attempting to achieve their declared purpose by terrorising the civil population and inflicting harsh and indefensible oppression on men, women-, and children not participating in the policy of violence. Life and property seem almost valueless in the eyes of some sections of the Crown forces. The commission will unhesitatingly express the utmost abhorrence of the criminal and ruthless spirit which dictated some of the worst acts' ever committed under British law and, order. . !