IRELAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 6 April 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

DISTURBAHGESJN BELFAST KILLED AND WOUNDED

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association)

LONDON, April L Mr Winston Churchill slated in the House of Commons that during the disturbances from 10th February to 26th March casualties were: Protcstants, 32 killed, SO wounded; Catholics, ol killed, 116 wounded. One military officer and six police, of whom three were Catholics, were killed, and a ■ number wounded.

ITI.STER PA RLIAMENT

LONDON, April I

Sir J. Craig, speaking in the Ulster Parliament, referring to the peace agreement, said so far as Ulster was concerned, nothing had been sacrificed. Ho had no desire to claim that the agreement was a triumph for either Ulster or for tho South, it was an earnest endeavour on tho part of the signatories to bring peace to the whole of Ireland. When the Irish Republican Army activities ceased in six counties, they would have peace in Ulster. If there was further trouble, they now knew that the persons who attempted to overthrow the Government and dispute the solidarity of the six counties, were open foes of both Ulster and Southern Ireland.

Speaking in the Ulster Parliament Sir J. Craig said “If a poison can bo found to lead Ulster into the Free State, it won’t be me. Even if 1 thought, it, would be beneficial to Ulster to go, 1 would not do it.”

There is considerable opposition in the Northern Parliament to the London Agreement. Following Sir .1. Craig’s statement, Mr Cooper declared that ninety per cent of the border residents opposed the agreement. The Fermanagh raiders •'included (some of Mr Collins’s supporters. It was absorb to suggest that Sinn Feiners should be included in the-Ulster Police.

Other speakers thought Parliament should have been consulted before, the agreement was signed. The debate was adjourned. Lord Londonderry defended the agreement in the Senate.

Farmers and traders a t Sw in ford disobeyed the order of the rebel forces to suanend business. Hundreds of armed mlh entered the town and wrecked the principal shops and forced others to close. Business was entirely suspended and the town closed.

Republican rebels in a crowded street at Mullingar, forced a party of Irish constabulary to abandon a motor car in which the rebels drove away. Severe fighting is proceeding in Sper. rin mountains, north-east Tyrone, between the Crown forces and the Rebels hiding in mountain fastnesses. Encounters are taking place nightly. It is stated that 25 rebels have been killed. VARIOUS RESOLUTIONS (Reuter’s Telegrams.) LONDON, April 4 A representative conferenc of Nationalists of Fermanagh, held at Inniskillen, unanimously passed a resolution singly objecting to the present operations in northern Ireland, approving the treaty, and pledging support to Messrs Griffiths and Collins. The election campaign subscription list in aid of the Free State election fund started with several large amounts. A train from Londonderry was held up at Foxhah, Donegal, by the Irish republican army mutineers. A considerable quantity of goods consigned to West Donegal merchants was commandeered.

Mutineers commandeered a prominent Donegal man’s residence at Foxhall, established headquarters there, and removed goods from the train thereto. The executive of the Consittutional Anti-Partition League, meeting at Dublin, passed a resolution welcoming the agreement between the Northern and Southern Governments, and protesting against crime outrages. A large meeting of Limerick Protestants passed a resolution viewing with horror the persecution of any section of countrymen on account of religious and political beliefs, hoping the differences would be composed leading to a United Ireland.

Representatives of the principal commercial firms in Cork which are not Catholic made statements recording abhorrence for reprisals or violence in connection with religion.