IRISH PROBLEM.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 1980, 23 November 1921, Page 5

IRISH PROBLEM.

RIOTS IN BELFAST. WORKMAN SHOT DEAD. RETALIATORY MEASUR ES. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Tuesday, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, November 21. A Belfast message states that rioting was renewed to-day. A workman going to the shipbuilding yards was shot dead, and two were wounded in retaliatoi-y firing. Strong forces of police and military quelled the outbreak. Later, a Nationalist’s house was attacked and damaged before the police could intervene. CURFEW RE-IMPOSED. (Received Tuesday, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, November 21. Rioting in Belfast was renewed today. Snipers in the Newtownards area shot dead a workman named Hanna, who was proceeding to the shipyards, and another was seriously injui’cd. The authorities now have a firm grip of tho situation, and early Curfew will probably be re-imposed to-night. National association. LONDON, November 21. At the National Constitutional Association rally, General Prescott Decis said: “Three times we have had the revolutionists by the throat, and each time we were pulled off.” Martial law as applied by the British Government, he said, favoured the revolutionists. He prayed to heaven that Ulster would not give way. They ivould have to fight sooner or latex’. He would fightnow, and send these Sinn Finn murderers and their Bolshevik allies back to hell —whence they came. A resolution, moved by Colonel Gretton, was adopted ui’ging the Government not to enter into an agreement with Sinn Fein until the latter gave effective proof of allegiance to the throne, and until the idea of a separate axuny in Ireland is abandoned; also that the meeting records a deep sense of humiliation and regret that negotiations should be taking place between the British Government and persons steeped to the lips in an expressed policy of assassination. “LOADING THE DICE.” (Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 22. Mr Andrews, speaking at Comber, County Down, said Mr Chamberlain bad endeavoured to load the dice against Ulster. Ireland would never be really united under one Parliament. Armed rioting occurred in Belfast last night. The lamps were extinguished in many streets, which was the signal to sweep the thoroughfare with bullets. The shooting became general at 9 o’clock. Three men were killed, and several wounded. Armoured cars rushed to the scene, and drove out the rioters, order prevailing at 10 o’clock. It is not stated how the trouble began, the Unionists and Sinn Feiners accusing each other of various provocations. The latter allege that it was an organised attempt by ultra-Union-ists to compromise the peace negotiations.

peeling tho Far Eastern questions could be found. The Austx-alian Press Association understands that the first care of the Far Eastern Committee will be a definition of what constitutes China. This has never been discussed. Another surprise was sprung tonight when, from French quarters, came a statement that Franco wanted the same size of capital ship fleet as Japan, and as much tonnage as Britain or the United States. They also desired that the naval holiday should not apply to them after 1926, owing to special reasons governing their needs. The replacement request will be placed belore the Committee on Armament by M. Briand before his departure. If the intention is correctly reported, it constitutes a complete volte face on the part of the French delegation, which, until two days ago, affirmed that the French fleet was negligible, and did not need the attention of the Conference. Deductions may be drawn that the request follows Mr. Balfour’s argument that before the three great naval Powers finally agree regarding the limitation of navies, the smaller fleets should also bo regulated. It is known that M. Bi'iand had a conference with Mr Hughes and Senator Lodge before the statement was made. It Is impossible to avoid a comparison of the 5-3 fleet of Britain with Japan with the proposed 5-3 fleet of the United States and France. THE REAL WORK. WASHINGTON, November 21. All the nations arc expected to announce their willingness to reduce further if the gonei'al plan for disarmament in Europe, including Rxussia, can be effected. Some major questions i - egarding tho Far East seem likely to be removed. As the conference over the Yap controvoi’sy is believed to be over, it is now suggested that the Shantung dispute should be settled by negotiations between China and Japan sepax-ately. Under these circumstances the problems are more certain of solution. gencx-al. opinion is that Japan’s insistence on an increase in the tonnage ratio is the only obstacle to a speedy agreement on naval disarmament, it is not felt that the claims made by the Japanese press are extreme in face of Mr Hughes’s definite declaration that the United States will not shift from the flve-flve-three plan, which Britain, moreover, has accented without important resex-vation. Thus, the second week of the Conference starts hopefully. The way has been cleared by real work in committee.