CHURCH DECREE STARTLES THE PEOPLE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 17 December 1920, Page 5

CHURCH DECREE STARTLES THE PEOPLE.

RAILWAYMEN'S DECISION BRIGHTENS SITUATION.

LABOUR PARTY'S COMMISSION

PEACE CAMPAIGN BEING INAUGURATED.

BY CABLE—PEESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT

(rimes.) (Received Dec. ' 17, 8.50 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 15. The Times' Dublin correspondent states that Bishop f Colahan's decree >j threatening to excommunicate all taking part in ambushes, kidnapping, and murder has startled the country. The vast importance of the issue is recognised, and it is expected that the -Catholic Hierarchy will recognise the necessity for a clear definition of its attitude, spiritual, political and moral towards the Republican Army, which will not fail to affect profoundly the whole character of the situation. The Labour Party's calling off of the railway strike is a bright spot in the .situation. The strike was a complete failure, and did not embarrass the military, but dislocated trade in threefourths of Ireland and did immense harm to the cattle industry. One :good effect was that it sobered the extremists in the west and south of Ireland, causing recognition of the possibility of a political settlement. The Times' Cork correspondent states that the Cork Chamber of Commerce has written to Sir Hamar Greenwood ■expressing astonishment at his statement in the House of Commons regarding the destruction of Cork, and! •demanding a personal investigation on' the spot, promising incontrovertible I evidence. They demand that the Gov- i •ernment make good the damage done. (United Serviced) •' LONDON, Dec. 16. The National Executive of the Labour Party is calling a special confer•<enee on December 29 to inaugurate a campaign with a view to Irish peace and a permanent settlement on lines formulated by the Labour Party's report, which its commission of enquiry in Ireland will present