"ANARCHY AND CHAOS"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10651, 26 July 1920, Page 5

"ANARCHY AND CHAOS"

IRISH SITUATION GRAYE CHIEF SECRETARY APPEALS TO THE NATION. TERRORISM MUST BE STAMPED OUT. BITTER PERIOD AHEAD. By Telegraph-Press As'gn.—Copyright lteuter's Telegram. (Received July 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 24. Tno situation in Ireland .was discussed in the House of Commons on the Chief Secretary's Salary. Mr T. P. O'Connor said irvhuid was steadily descending into an abyss of anarchy and chaos. Nobody had do no more to create the extremist party twin Eir Edward Carson. He suggested that it was the Ulster, movement that swayed the vacillating German mind in iavour of wai. . Sir Edward Carson retorted that ho believed this was an unmitigated lie, and proceeded to defend ulster's determination to resist being ground down under the heels of murderers and assassins. He declared that the British Government was entirely beaten w three-quarters of Ireland, and demanded vigorous measures against tho treasonable institutions which the Sinn Fein was establishing. Sir Harnar Greenwood (Chief Secretary), replying, said fifty-seven arrests wore made in 'Belfast and more would be necessary. He would ask t'ho House to pass certain legislation as soon as possible. The Government had introduced the Criminal' Injuries Bill, whioh would enable thorn to intercept every grant from the- Exchequer e*>o any person in authority in Ireland who was acting illegally. The action of every counoil and other public authority ' was being examined. Drastic action would bo taken to uphold the authority of tho Crown. Another bill would ■'establish, a tribunal superseding tho courts, which had failed in their function at the recent assizes owing to the absence of jurors, who were intimidated by the reign of the revolver. He would also submit a bill enabling the Lord-Lieutenant to establish a tribunal to deal quickly with every criminal offence committed in Ireland. He referred to the widespread terrorism, ' which prevented the Peopl° giving evidence in cases, and tiho diffieulties in the way of laying charges, but under tho legislation which he proposed it would be possible to mete out punishment in proven cases adequate to- the crime. In tho meantime any decision of a Sinn Fein court or any transfer titlo thoreundei would oe illegal and bo upset as soon as possible. "' Ho denied any coercion in Ireland. Thbre was no soldier there except to preserve life and order. Tho people of Ireland were terrorised by & few. It was the Government's duty to toeak that terror, and give the Irish people a chance to voice their real views. Sir Hamar Greenwood continued: "The situation is bad and may grow worse, because the forces of the Crown ore asserting the Government's authority. I regret to say to the House that the United Kingdom must brace itself to face a bitter period in Irish history. There will bo a determined prganise'd attempt to establish an Irish republic by means of murder and intimidation. That attempt) will not be abandoned without a struggle." Ho asserted that it could bo defeated by the united determination of all parties and creeds to condemn and resolutely oppose such savage methods. He extended an invitation for representation from every quarter as regards the best way of settling tho question and saving Ireland from ruin, and concluded a telling speech with an appeal to the House for united support. A Nationalist motion to reduce tho Chief Secretary's salary' was rejected by 181 votes to 42.

"PRESTIGE OF NATION."

CONFERENCR AT DOWNING STREET.

(Received July 26, 1 a.m.) LONDON, July 23.

Mr Lloyd George, presided at an important "conference at Downing street yesterday regarding the Irish question. The conference lasted for eight hours when it adjourned till .Monday. Sir Hamar Greenwood nays that tho issues woro> decided involving the welfare of millions and the prestige of the nation.

Mir Lloyd George said that, unless Britain wishes to imperil her existence, it would! ho impossible, to establish an independent authority in Ireland. He was prepared to discuss plans for settlement with any responsible leaders of Irish opinion, subject to two conditions:—Wo could not agree to secession in the American sense, and must have self-determination in the NorthEast. 'Mr Lloyd George said that the other day he saw the German plan of submarine sinkings. It was surprising how many were just outside Ireland, despito the fact that wo controlled the harbours. If control had been in the hands of a hostile authority the position would have boon impossible. "Therefore, unless we wish to make ourselves defenceless wo cannot movo." The Premier said, later: "I am very sure things are going to happen. Ireland is going to becomo very much worso."

Referring to the question of a truoo ratified by Mr Thomas, Mr Bonar Law eaid: "From tho very beginning we only moved troops there becauao of the murders. Stop the murders, and wo will remove the troops." THE BELFAST RIOTS ORDER RESTORED AFTER MUCH BLOODSHED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, July 23. Order has boon restored in Belfast. A force of cavalry has arrived. Between two and three hundred were woiuidcd by tho military firing and tho" Sinn Fein sniping. An ox-eoldier named Dunning, who was going to bring his ohild home, had his head partially blown away by a Sinn Fein sniper, and a man who helped to carry the body into a houso was aftorwaras shot dead. "When the soldiers were firing upon tho Sinn Fein snipers eomo shots entered tho top story of tho Clonard Monastery, and killed n lietJemptori«ft priest. The fire brigade had to deal with fourteen fires during the night.

FURTHER DETAILS. '• (Received July 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 25. Though tho worst disorders have, ended in Belfast, occasional outbreaks continue. It is estimated that fourteen were killed and three hundred wounded, but tho Sinn Fciners aro believed to have taken a number of their dead, so they aro not included in the casualty list. Some of the Sinu Fein snipers, tho accuracy of whoso aim showed they were ex-soldiers, fired upon troops front tho housetops until volleys from ma-chine-guns dislodged them. Acting under Sir Edward Carson'a orders, patrols belonging to the Unionist clubs <md Orange lodges are assisting the authorities to preserve order. A number of girls in Belfast held indignation meetings against Sinn Feiu outrages. The girls sang _ loyalist songß, and passed a resolution that they would not work with Sinn Feinem.

After the funeral of Constable Carey, who was murdered in Tuam, masked men took tho hearao, from tho undertakers a.nd burnt it.

During the coroner's inquiry into tiw. death of two youtlis at Mitohelstow-n, tho evidence showed that the youths wero joking with a party of girls, when a military lorry, with fifteen soldiers, drove up, and fired, killing: two. Tno sergeant commanding the party said someono in tho crowd fired at tho lorry, whereupon the soldiers fired 119 rounds.

Belfast shipyard workers thaw a Sinn Feiner into a river. He was rescued and sent to hospital. Eight Unionist clubs have decided that their members should assist in patrolling the streets to preserve order. A STRANGE PROCEDURE. (Received July 25, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 23. A dozen armed and disguised men dragged n, Roscommon farmer from his bed, forced him to his knees in the roadway and compelled him, at the revolver's point, to promise to induce his son to rotiro from the police within a fortnight. ATTACK ON CONVENT. STRENGTHENING~THE MILITARY (Received July 26, 1 a.m.) LONDON, July 23. Belfast is quiet to-day, after a comparatively quiet night. Although rioting continued in some quarters, there °vere fewer casualties. The most serious incident was an attack on a convent, in the neighbourhood of which there had keen rioting and looting, necessitating the nuns leaving yesterday. The crowd at 10 o'clock at night became definitely hostile and made an organised effort to destroy tho by fire. They drenched the hedgo with paraffin and petrol, smashed the gate,-. and rushed and ultimately burst the door. They entered, saturated the floors and ignited the lower rooms. The police made a .baton charge, and, with the military, cleared the streets. An armoured car fired on the rioters. The fire brigade succeeded in connning the fire to the lower rooms. Large numbers of refugees from Belfast are arriving in County Tyrone. Rioting occurred ■yesterday m Dromore. where a Catholic club and paiiochial hall were wrecked last night. The "police fired. One rioter was killFurther drafts from Aldorshot are proceeding to Ireland, and others, including tho First Cavalry Brigade, ore held in readiness.

An earlier message stated: Rioting continues in Belfast, iand is the most serious since 1907. At least eight people have been killed and seventy uro in hospital, and the death-roll and casualty list are still incomplete. Disorders continually broke out an new quarters. Several priests pluclnly invaded the danger stones, and implored the rioters to go homo, but without effect. When the police were badly stoned they made baton charges, but finally soldiers" in steel helmets and an armoured ca.r with a Lewis gun were called out, and, after repeated warnings fired over the heads of the crowd. The mob fled, but returned to the attack when it was found no one was hurt. The warnings wcr© renewed, and the soldiers then fired into the crowd. Protectant and Catholic shops suffered equally in the looting, which was n: serious part of the rioting. Young hooligans swaggered about with whisky bottles in their pockets, and girls flaunted finery taken from the looted shops; and the streete were littcrod with broken goods.