MANIFESTO SEIZED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24369, 3 September 1942, Page 4

MANIFESTO SEIZED

REPUBLICAN ARMY BELFAST POLICE STATEMENT LONDON, Sept. 1 An allegation that the Irish Republican Army is preparing for attacks against British and American troops in Northern Ireland is made in a statement issued by the Belfast police. The statement says: "On the evening of August 30 a special manifesto, issued by the Army Council of the 1.R.A., was circulating in Belfast. The terms of this document make it clear that this illegal organisation has been preparing for attacks against members of the armed forces of the Crown, against the police and against the United States forces in Northern Ireland. Provoking Conflict "This manifesto said: 'The I.R.A. cannot recognise the right of England or any Power to maintain forces in any part of Irish territory without the free consent of-the Irish people. The Lit A. reserves the right, therefore, to use whatever measures present themselves to clear this territory of such forces. " 'lt will undoubtedly be part oi Britain's tactics to provoke a conflict between the American troops in Northern Ireland and the Irish guerilla forces. If, in the event of the resumption of hostilities between Britain and the Irish Republic, American troops are drawn into the conflict with Irish soldiers, the responsibility must rest with those who have presumed to use North-east-Ireland as a military base without the free consent of the Irish people.' Finding of Explosives "The distribution of this manifesto was followed by the timely discovery of two large accumulations of arms and explosives outside Belfast. The finding of these lethal weapons has undoubtedly frustrated a plan which, if it had been carried through, would have resulted iu grave disturbance and loss of life." The Belfast police had earlier announced that they had made a further extensive raid, and had taken possession of another and bigger arms dump. Large quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives in barrels were dis* covered. The investigations showed that this material was intended for distribution throughout Northern Ireland, and quantities had already been sent out. Thirteen persons were detained as a result of yesterday's raids. IRISH EXECUTION MURDER OF POLICEMAN ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS (Kecd. 12.45 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 2 Williams, the murderer of a policeman in Belfast, has been executed. The police took elaborate precautions to prevent demonstrations. They placed a cordon round a large area surrounding tho prison and patrolled the streets in cars. Thousands of workers living outside the cordon were forced to make a detour. An earlier message stated that agitatation was being whipped up in Eire and Ulster and Irish quarters in London for the reprieve of Thomas Williams, the I.R.A. youth who was not reprieved far the shooting of a policeman. Dublin workers threatened a general strike if Williams was hanged. Nationalist members of the Parliament of Ulster have cabled to the King, .Mr. Churchill, Mr. Herbert Morrison, Cardinal Hinslev and the Archbishop of Canterbury urging that Williams be granted a reprieve. The death sentence still stood on Williams because he stated that the firing on the police was done at his suggestion. A policeman was murdered in Belfast last Easter Mondav by six youthful j members of the Irish Republican Army and they were convicted and sentenced to death. Their ages ranged from IS years to 22 years. Later it was announced that "five of the six had been reprieved, four being sentenced to life imprisonment and one to 15 years' imprisonment.