IRELAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume L, Issue 175, 25 October 1917, Page 5

IRELAND

IRISH EXECUTIVE'S POLICY ,j CRITICISED ; MR DUKE'S 'REPLY. SINN F&INNERS ACTIVE;-., j NEW REBEL FORCE ORGANISED IN EVERY PARISH. GERMAN . ASSISTANCE. Australian and N.Z. Cable AaaociatKizi-. 1 LONDON, Oct. 24. In the House of Commons, Mr Redmond moved a resolution deploring the Irish Executive's policy, and also the Irish military , policy, e&peci ally in view of the> necessity for creating an atmosphere favourable to the Convention. . Mr Redmond said the Irish question was extremely grave, and only the success of the Convention would prevent a period of chaos and anarchy unprecedented for a century. The existing policy was the greatest danger, to the Convention. It was widely believed in Ireland that certain people in England and Ireland would gladly see the Convention destroyed, hoping that Ireland's last hope of splf : government would perish in the resultant anarchy p.nd, perhaps, bloodshed. ...lie, acquitted the Irish Unionists of for • this condition .of tiff airs. The_ Convention proceedings , had beien .without any bitterness, but. the discussions had now reached a critical stage. Many of the authorities' acts were provocative and irritating, causing the growth of Sinn Feiriism. He moved th" , . tiofn in order to urge Mr .Duke to exercise his controlling powers.. t . ; Mr Duke, Chief Secretary for Ireland,. replied, that .every act and policy, was justified. Otherwise order woulci, not have been maintained. The, ...Qor vernment's one desire .was to create an atmosphere of goodwill. He pointed, to Ireland's present prosperity and practical irhmunity from the misery afflicting the. rest of the; world. th,e .Empire's avowed .enemies einrolled 200,000 young Irishman in order ,to create a rebellion. Parliament, . with unprecedented .magnanimity. cpnsidered", that until Ireland received the v government it had not. the to force conscription uponit. The _ Sinn Feiners declined to particulate in the Convention, but tliere had been a hurrican fire of. rebel oratory throughout the country. .had ilso been steady organisation in. every parish of a new rebel force, who had been .told - that there was a considerable quantity of arms ready and..m Ore when the fatal day comes." "Whence . came , these arms? S The heloihg hand which brought about the rebellion in 1916' was Germany's. When it became necessary in February to deport .persons engaged in conspiring it was. because Germany's hand was again held but, and .the Government knew it. . The Government , could not ignore theorganisation of this -yolivnforce .or its declared purpose. The Sinn Fein, to defeat the, • Conyeiition.:-, ~_ . ~ . *Mr Asquith eaid. .he hoped nothing wo.uld be don© to defeat .the Convention. . . ' . .

BTATEMENT BY THE PREMIER

SINN FEINERSAND GERMAN ■AID.- ' GOVERNMENT'SS EFFORTS TO PRODUCE GOOD-WILL. Mr Lloyd George/said-the situation in Ireland was.' roost, difficult,'and most delicate. Mr Dtake had striven, hie utmost to avoid any provocation which would endanger the usefulness of.. the 1 Convention. Mr de Valera's speeches ; were coldrblooded incitements to; rebel- 5 lion. It was essential that, the. .<3o\ernment should give, a clear indication that they would not allow those speeches to be repeated. Germany once nearly .succeeded in landing . arms, in Ireland to aid a rebellion, and the Government knew that arrangements \*er,e being made for Germany to land arms agam ' from America. There had been a deliberate attemnt to enlist, enrol, and ganise hundreds of thousands-of XP»"»S Irishment. preparatory, to. landing arms. If they had been Englishmen .they would have been . compulsbrily enlisted in ! tlie Arm v. The Sein Ferners* idea of Home Rule was not self r gover,nment, but comoiete recession from England. We could not possibly agree to {that, j (Cheers). He was willing .an. undertaking that if. the .Convention arrived at a substantial agreement J Government would use their ,; wnolef4 power to translate the agreement! into ah Act of Parliament. Such-a! Bill, would be put through immediately. \ IMr Dillon interjected: This'i^; yery* important. Will, the Prime Minister pledge the, Government immediately the Convention comes to an to embody it in ,a Bill ,and £afes>- it through Parliament as soon as HP^abieMr Lloyd George : Certainly. ' J This has always been the Government s intention. THE MOTION REJECTED.

LONDON, Oct. 24. Mr Redmond's, motion was defeated by 21 votes to 78.

JAPANESE FBR EASTERN FRONT

GERMANY PREPARING. *pq N.2. 0»bl» Wedation (Rec. Oct. 25, 12.5 p.m.) _ ' V ROME, Oct. 24. It is reported from Germany that the General Staff is preparing to encounter Japanese armies on the Eastern front next spring.

HUNGARY

ELECTORAL REFORM.

(Rec. .Oct. 25, 11.25 a.m.) ; COPENHAGEN, Octb f 24. The Krquz Zeitiing's Vienna correspondent sav's the Government will introduce ah \electoral • reform-scheme in the Hungarian Chamber .enf ranching three and , a y half millions, including 500,000 women.