SINN FEIN PLOT.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVIII, Issue 18574, 29 November 1920, Page 7

SINN FEIN PLOT.

HUNDREDS OF ARRESTSI ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS TAKEN BY AUTHORITIES. INTERNMENT CAMPS. By Telegraph—Press Aesociatioti— Copyrieft 1 - Auitralian and K.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, November 2ti. Mr Arthur Griffith, who is vice-presi-dent of the so-called Irish Repubho, and Professor John O'Neill havo been arrested in Dublin. „ Mr Griffith was arrcßted in bed. J±e made no resistance. No arma were found. Mr Grilfith did not niako a statement. He had arranged to .address Irish meetings at Manchester on Saturday and Sunday, but the police prohibited tho meetings. (Reoeived November 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 26. Sir Hamar Greenwood announced that Mr Griffith would be dotained until the seized documents had been investigated. (Arthur Griffith, M.P., for Caran, is one of the founders and organiser of the Sinn Fein movement, but was not openly identified with the 1918 rebellion. A compositor by trade, ho started the " United Irishman " newspaper, in which he advooated tho policy of Passive resistance. He urged that Irish M.P.'s should withdraw from the British Parliament, and taxes should not be paid, that British goods should bo boycotted, and that Ireland should in every possible way assert her independence of England. He was arrested in May, 1918, with over one hundred other members of the Sinn Fein for conspiring to enter into treasonable communication with Germany. Professor MacNeill is M.P. for the National University of Ireland. He was president and chief of staff of the Irish Volunteers, whq started the 1916 rebellion, and was tried by court-martial and sentenced to penal servitude for life. He begun life as a clerk in the High Court of Justice, Dublin. He was an ardent student of Celtio languages and history, and was one of thd founders of the Gaelio League. In 1909, when the National University of Ireland was established, he was appointed to the Chair of Early and Mediaeval Irish History. When the Irish Volunteers were enrolled in October, 1918, Mac Neill was their orator and prophet, and when the Sinn Fein section broke away from the Volunteers he became president of the seceding body. Professor Mac Neill is the sole survivor of the original Sinn Fein executive.)

HOUSE TO HOUSE SEARCHES. A THOUSAND PRISONERS. (Received November 28, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 27As a result of the seizure of lists of members of the Republican army the authorities are making house to house searches in Dublin. Hundreds of arrests have been made. Two internment camps are being made near Dublin and another at Duiidrum, for the incarceration of arrested republicans, who will eventually number a thousand. They will be treated as prisoners of war.

SEIZURE OF DOCUMENTSLONDON, November 27. An official of tho Irish Office, who was interviewed, reported that an enormous quantity of republican, documents have been seized. The republicans are remarkably careless conspirators. They distributed among agents scores of typewritten copies of hundreds of their plans, of which much may be due merely to Irish imagination, but details of suggested outrages are sp elaborate that the authorities must take serious precautions.

GUARDING MINISTERS. PRECAUTIONS In LONDON. (Received November 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 27. Owing to Sinn Fein documents seized in Ireland disclosing plots to destroy public buildings in London and threats against the lives of Ministers protective measures havo been hurriedly adopted. "Workmen are employed night and day erecting barricades at the entrances to side streets off Whitehall, leading to Government offices, especially in Downing Street, where Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law occupy official residences. Parliamentary Buildings have been closed against visitors. The police detained a suspicious oharaoter loitering in the outer lobby of the House of Commons on Friday.

The utmost secrecy is being preserved by officials regarding the revelations or the Sinn Fein plot. It is rumoured that it was intended to employ motoroars conveying bombers rapidly from place to place.

THREATENING LETTERS. (Received November 28, 11.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 27.

Sir Harnar Greenwood uses a bullet proof car driving to London. Five exservice men guard the outer door of the Irish Office, which is bolted, barred and chained.

Several Ministers and high officials have received threatening letters and anonymous warnings. Tho police are guarding the Manchester Coal Exchange and have prohibited the entrance of delegates arrrvine from all parts of the country N to participate in tho Irish Self-Deterihination League's week-end demonstrations.