IRISH CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 28 October 1921, Page 5

IRISH CRISIS

ABSOLUTE VEIL OF SECRECY OVER CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS SCOPE FOR WILDEST SPECULATIONS (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, Oct. 27. An absolute veil of secrecy is enveloping the Conference proceedings. This provides scope for tho wildest speculations, tho only certainty being a rapidly growing suspicion among Unionists and some Liberals that all is not well. . . The Australian Press Association understands that unexpected delays are retarding tho Irish Conference and may possibly deter Mr Lloyd George from attending the opening sessions of the Washington Conference. It is believed tbo Sinn Fciiiers now demand the discussion of frontiers before committing themselves to the question of allegiance to the. King. Unionist Commoners who demand the Immediate, cessation of negotiations and Hie closing down of the conference have increased do fifty-two. This augmentation was expected. Displeasure, and excitement followed (lie disclosure in a White Paper that the truce was not in the form of a document. ft points cut that wholesale breaches are occurring in tho south and west of Ireland and gives instances of the establishment of Sinn Fein courts and mulcting of citizens m sums ranging from £2OO to £SOO, openly declared for tho purpose of arming the, I.R.A. , It is now asked, if the truce- was the subject of an honourable understanding bow are these outrages to bo explained? It is bluntly asserted in “diehard" circles that Sinn Feiners are attempting to compel Mr Lloyd George and Mr Chamberlain to agree to dismember North Ireland as constituted in the. Home Rule Act and curtail its parliamentary powers in exchange for Irish allegiance to the Crown. THE TELEGRAM TO THE POPE LONDON, Oct. 26. An Irish bulletin declared that the alleged crisis arising from Mr Do Valera’s telegrams to the Pope existed only in the British press. ’The telegram became necessary owing to the British Government’s public declaration during the negotiations that tho Irish wore snbiect people. The bulletin concludes: “The real danger to the conference's success lies in mistenretentations of the situation In Train nd. Assertions that the Irish are ready to accent any settlement will inevitably, jm i sch ev ion sly , strengthen British opinion against a just settlement. The Irish hallo! in, referring to complaints of forced levies for the republican army, declares officially that all such levies are unauthorised and must be stopped. When collections are found necessary in order to finance local administration subscriptions must bo purely voluntary. NO INDICATION OF A BREAKDOWN (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, Oct, 27. It is authoritatively stated that there is no indication of a break-down of the Irish Conference having occurred and Mr -Lloyd George will sail for Washington on November sth ns arranged, unless something arises to prevent him. , ~ It is unofficially declared that the difficulty due to Mr do Valera a ießcram to the Pope has been settled, and that the real question, now is Ulster, with which negotiations have commenced.