IRELAND'S PEACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18396, 11 May 1923, Page 7

IRELAND'S PEACE.

NEW EFFORT FAILS.

NEGOTIATIONS REVEALED.

FREE STATE'S TERMS.

SURRENDER OF ARMS.

DE VALERA QUIBBLES.

By Telegraph Association—Copyright.

(Received 9.5 p.m.)

A- and N.Z.

LONDON. May 9.

The President of the Free State Executive, Mr. W. P. Cosgrave, announced in the Dail to-day the breakdown of negotiations for a settlement between the Free State Government and tho Republicans led by De Valera.

According to Mr. Cosgrave's statement Do Vulora requested Senators Tennyson ! and Douglas to meet him to discuss j peace., but the President refused to allow i personal conferences.

A document embodying the Free Stato Government's terms was submitted to De Valera. These conditions were.

1. All political issues be decided by a majority vote of tho elected representatives of the people.

2. All lethal weapons in the country to be under the control of the Executive.

3. The surrender of arms to be a preliminary for the release of prisoners, who must subscribe to the first two conditions.

In hi s reply De Valera reiterated his declaration of April 25, and submitted an amendments that a general election be held not later than September 19, pending which all a-rms in the hands of Free State troops should be under strict supervision and control, while the Republican forces should have a suitable building in each province for the storage of their i arms. . I

The Free State Government yesterday considered this document, and sent a reply that the question of the oath could not be considered, and effective control of arms must be insisted on. The Government was prepared to . invito the bishops to act through the local clergy as intermediaries for the collection of arms. Once arms were handed in prisoners who accepted the terms would be released.

De Valera replied expressing disappointment with the Government's reply, saying : " I have been met by rigid insistence upon conditions which are impracticable and unfair."

De Valera, said Mr. Cosgrove, had been given until Wednesday to accept the terras and had not done so.

PAPAL ENVOY'S MISSION.

FREE STATE SUSPICIOUS.

REASONS FOR FAILURE.

A. and N.Z. LONDON, May 9. The Dublin correspondent of the Australian and New Zealand Press Association, dealing with Monsignor Luzio's mission, states that ho came to Ireland, ostensibly on an ecclesiastical mission, but -his real object was to discover a way to peace. The Government from the first inspected Monsignor Luzio of working in the Republican interests, nevertheless he undoubtedly tried his best to secure a cessation of hostilities to enable the Republicans to save their faces.. He kept out of .the limelight, but the Government was well informed' of his work, and knew that he was trying to bring the strongest ecclesiastical influence

to bear on Cabinet to force it to accept - something less than the complete surrender of the Republicans. It was largely Monsignor Luzio's representation which led De Valera to issue his peace terms. Monsignor Luzfo almost succeeded in getting the Republicans to surrender. From first to last the Government refused to have anything to do with him. The correspondent adds that tho mission had one important result, proving that the ecclesiastical power in Ireland is nearly broken. '■'-.',' ~_,

FREE STATE ARMY.

DEMOBILISATION MOVE.

EX-SERVICE MEN TO GO.

A. rod N.Z.

LONDON, May 9.

The special correspondent of the Australian and New Zealand Press Association at Dublin states that the question of the demobilisation of the Free State Army is causing grave concern among ex-British service men in Ireland. Sixty per cent, of the National Army fought for tho Empiro in the Great War, and it is now reported that the Free State Government proposes to demobilise exactly that proportion at the earliest possible moment. It is rumoured that ex-soldiers will be the first to go, and the appointment of General Murphy to the post of Chief Commissioner of the Dublin police gives colour to the rumour. General Murphy is a young man, being only 31 years of age. Ho was a colonel in the British Army, winning the D.S.O. and the Military Cross in the field. He is the only real soldier in the higher command of the Free State Army, and while the Army Council could not afford to do without him during the fighting, ho is a constant, thorn in its side. General Murphy's appointment to an ornamental post is regarded as a clever move to get rid of him. The Gaelic League Party is now in supreme command of the army. Its ideals, expressed repeatedly by General Mulcahy, are hardly the ideals of the British Army, and ex-British soldiers are hardly the men to carry them out,

REBEL SISTER OF EARL.

HUNGER-STRIKE IN PRISON.

A. and N.Z., ~, LONDON, May 9. Miss Aldina Brodrick, sister of the Karl Middleton, formerly Mr. St. John Brodrick, who was arrested a fortnight ago while on cycling patrol for the rebels, has been hunger-striking in the Dublin gaol for 12 days.