A DEADLOCK

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11224, 1 June 1922, Page 5

A DEADLOCK

IRISH NEGOTIATIONS TREATY BELIEVED TO BE IN JEOPARDY. GRAVE CRISIS FEARED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received Aiav 31, 5-5 p.m.) LONDON, Alay 31. According to the "Daily Chronicle ’ the conversations between the Government .and the Sinn Eeineis resulted in a deadlock. Air Winston Churchill to-day will point out the gravity of tile situation. Tho Government stands for tho treaty, which the Free Staters claim has not been violated by their pact, but obviously it is, as the June‘elections arranged under the pact are not the elections prescribed by the treaty. The deadlock lor the moment is complete, though the Government will again discuss the issues with the Irishmen. Britain considers it undesirable to precipitate a crisis by any hasty action, and will exercise the patience shown during the negotiations for peace. If the Free Staters show no spirit of compromise the crisis cannot be delayed beyond the June elections. A POLITICAL RUMOUR GOVERNAIENT MAY" APPEAL TO ELECTORS. LONDON, May 30. It is persistently rumoured in political circles that Mr Lloyd George in. tends to appeal to the electors on the Irish question. MUNITIONS FOR IRELAND BRITISH SUPPLIES SUSPENDED. LONDON, Alay 30. Replying to questions in the House of Commons, Mr Winston Churchill said that if munition factories were working in Dublin, the fact was ■within the rights of the Provisional Government ; but he agreed that if the manufacturing was on a great scale, it would be a matter for serious consideration. He had suspended supplies of munitions from England as from the date of the Collins-De Valera agreement. (Cheers.) OPEN WARFARE FIGHTING ON ULSTER BORDER. SERIOUS CLASHES. (Received May 31, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. Open warfare continues on the Ulster border between the Free Staters and the Ulsterites, the former preparing for a general advance on Strabane (Derry). Ulster specials held up the traffic between Strabane and Lifford. Rifle fire in the Strabane streets was heard for miles. The populace is fleeing, business houses are closed, and many houses in Lifford have been sacked. The I.R.A. is sending heavy reinforcements. Clady bridge was blown up by bombs. Kidnapping of Unionists in the country districts continues. LONDON, May 30. . There is heavy firing at Strabano and Lifford, with continuous sniping from the housetops, and armoured cars and machine-guns are in action. It i» reported that the casualties are heavy. BRITIS3H ARTILLERY IN ULSTER. i / LONDON, May 80. A battery of artillery from England passed through Belfast on its way fo an inland Ulster town. v HOPE ABANDONED FATE OF KIDNAPPED OFFICERS. LONDON, May 30. Air Winston Churchill said m the House of Commons that the Government had no hope that the offioers who were kidnapped at Macroom were alive, and it had so informed their relatives. He would make an Irish statement on Wednesday.