FROM BAD TO WORSE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVII, Issue 17457, 29 April 1920, Page 5

FROM BAD TO WORSE.

ONE MURDER PER DAY. Press Association. LONDON, April 27 In the House of Commons Lord Robert Cecil drew attention to the state of Ireland. The position was more serious, he said, than at any time during the last hundred years. Sixteen murders had been committed in the last three weeks, and the number now averaged one per day. There was an absolute collapse in the system of civilisation guaranteeing the lives of citizens. He criticised the withdrawal of the police from the country districts, and attributed to this subsequent lawlessness. There was no co-ordination between the soldiers and the police. If convictions were not obtainable the law should be altered with a view to securing fairness to all parties. If necessary prisoners should be brought to England- for trial, arid soldiers should be used to protect the police. Unless the Government proved its capacity to govern we would drift through anarchy and humiliation to an Irish republic. Mr. Bonar Law. regretting that the de Late was very inopportune, pointed out that every weapon of the law in Ireland had been enforced as far as possible. Trials in England were useless unless evidence could be secured from Iceland. Such trials would.be regarded by Irishmen as worse than a court-martial. As regards arrests without trial, he said the system of terrorism was so widespread that it was impos- [ lble to get evidence, although in many caes the offenders were known. In such circumstances he defied anyone to say such persons should be allowed continued liberty to join in further conspiracies against their fellow-countrymen. As regards the hunger strikers, the Government was prepared to do anything to prevent them becoming martyrs as long as they were unable to carry on offences under suspicion of which they were arrested. Mr. Bonar Law paid a very high tribute to Lord French, who had the Government's full confidence.