SINN FEIN CONGRESS.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 23 February 1922, Page 5

SINN FEIN CONGRESS.

HOPES OF AGREEMENT.

»* CABLE—fKESS ASSOCIATiOK—COVY&IGai LONDON, Feb. 21. At the Sinn Fein Congress Mr De Yalera declared: lfl have faith in tEe Irish nation and that whatever is done her© to-day Ireland will be free. The spirit which brought us four years on the way is not going to be quenched tj a single vote. If we divide on the great principles who is going to blame us? We are all brothers here. Mr •Griffith and I were colleagues, and no power in England is going to divide us as a nation. We have never accepted British rule, and I ask you in God's name not to giv.e the British monarch the democratic title of Ireland." Mr De Valera said an alternative existed to war. He would rather see Ireland flooded with British troops and Ireland without a single gun than that the conference should commit the irrevocable act of giving British troops the right to be there. If they could not resist actively they could resist passively. Ireland was a mother, and

should not occupy tne position of an

illegitimate daughter. He would r-father be a Unionist than take the sta- \ tas of a Free State.

Mr Arthur Griffith submitted an Amendment reaffirming the Congress' allegiance to the Dail Eireann and supporting the Dail's approval of the treaty. He said that when he went to liondon the De Yalera Cabinet knew they could not bring back the republic. There would likely be a split in Sinn Fein lasting for some years, though his party was willing to shake hands with the De Valeraites if they got a fair chance.

The "Congress adjourned till to-mor-row. Hopes are entertained that an agreement between the parties will he reached.

The Lord Chancellor, in the House of Lords, moved the appointment of a tribunal to enquire into the Clones kidnapping raid. He said Ulster declared that the conditions in Ireland were now ten times worse than prior to when the so-called peace was signed.

Lord Buckmaster disapproved of an «nqtury. He thought Ireland's only hope lay in strengthening the hands of the Free State Government.

Lord Middleton urged the withdrawal of the motion in the interests of peace.

Lord Birkenhead said both the Northern and Free State Governments demanded an enquiry, and they muat proceed with the motion.

Lord Carson's amendment was negatived without a» division, and Lord Birkenhead*s motion was carried by -41 votes £o 40."

The Northern Government has telegraphed to Mr Winston Churchill stat-

ing that they could not recognise the

Irish Republican Army, and desired 't V4o be understood that they cannot submit to any further outside interference in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland at the instigation of persons hostile to the existence of their Government. This is in reference to the Viceroy's action relating to the Derry prisoners.

The Irish republicans have released seventeen m«re hostages.