PROLONGED CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 11226, 3 June 1922, Page 7

PROLONGED CONFERENCE

SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT BY MR * COLLINS. i CAN CIVIL WAR BE AVERTED? By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received June 2, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The prolonged conferences, in which Mr Lloyd George, Mr Winston Churchill, Lord Birkenhead, and Sir Hamar Greenwood have been most active, failed to find a solution for the problems arising from the draft constitution for the Irish Free State. After a discussion with Messrs Collins and Griffith and other , Irish delegates, Cabinet came to tho conclusion that the constitution does not carry out the letter or spirit of the treaty, and asked that it be revised. The only hop© is that the conference of Irish, leaders at Dublin during the week-end may lead to a decision to revise the draft of the constitution, and thus save Iceland a renewal of warfare. It is understood that the draft in no way follows the Canadian precedent, as was promised, and in some respects it is a violation- of the Canadian system. The Government has warned the Free Staters that any attempt to deviate from the terms of the treaty must wreck the treaty and reverse the Government’s policy. Mr Collins replied that he was - personally desirous of carrying out the treaty, but everything must be done to reconcile the De Valera party. ' Mr Collins, interviewed to-night, admitted that the situation “is not without difficulty, hut the difficulties were created by people in high places.’’ Asked to explain, he said: “We cannot allow men like Lord Carson to dictate what is best for Ireland.’’ Mr Collins is returning to Dublin tonight. Messrs Griffith and Duggan are staying on in London. Political correspondents of the London dailies admit that civil war in Ireland is not far off. The latest news ik that Lord Balfour iB taking a hand in the negotiations. He will see Sir James Craig in Londonderry on Friday. There is anxiety on*tbe part of the. Northern Government regarding invasion, which is resulting in much activity at Lough Foyle, where the destroyer Warwick has arrived. Part of Lough Foyle is inljELe Free State territory, and the. Free State authorities challenge the British right of search there. There are already nineteen British battalions in Ulster, in addition to artillery, which is moving nearer the frontier. LONDON, June 1. The Manchester Regiment has been ordered to proceed to Ireland on June 20th. NORTHERN DELEGATES LONG INTERVIEW "WITH BRITISH PREMIER. (Received June 2, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. Sir James Craig and Lard Londonderry had a lengthy interview with Mr Lloyd George. It is understood that the latter submitted the Government’s views on the Collins-De Valera pact. A GLOOMY VIEW. (Received June 2, 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. Sir James Craig, in an interview, takes the gloomiest view of the Irish outIook“CHURCHILL’S THREATS” “DO NOT AFFECT US,” SAYS DE VALERA. (Received June 2, 5.5 p.m.) , LONDON, June 2. Mr De Valera has issued a statement, in which he says: “Mr Winston Churchill’s threats do not affect us. Wo deny the right of any English authority to prescribe what Irishmen should or should not do.” SITUATION IN BELFAST . « OF THE GRAVEST CHARACTER. WHOLESALE MURDER. (Received June 2, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The situation in Belfast continues to be of the gravest character. The Opera House has been closed. The picture palaces and! music halls are doing so little basiness, owing to Sinn Fein threats to blow them up. that they contemplate closing down immediately. There were numerous attempts at murder and burnings during tho afternoon. Fourteen were killed in the Millfield area in twenty-four hours. The military are doing their best to isolate the Sinn Fean gunmen. Their machineguns are raking the streets, but the Sinn Feiners- are well conoealed. The machine-gunners are inexpert and the machine-guns finally jammed after several civilians, some of whom were Roman Catholics, were killed and wounded.

After a 'bomb was thrown at a tram car, a loyalist mob got; out of hand and burned ecrergl houses in the Catholic

area, but the gunmen were always able to escape. Pedestrians meanwhile went to work at the risk of their lives. Several were killed and wounded who were taking no part in the conflict, including a boy going to school and an old blind beggar who was selling laces. In one case a Sinn Feiner stopped a man who was driving a motor-lorry, brutally murdered him, and drove off with the lorry, throwing the body in the roadway. During the day the "Belfast fire brigade answered twenty-six calls. There were many cases of looting, including spirit shops. Boys ran about offering bottles to passers-by, and hiding when the police came in view. ATROCIOUS CRIMES MURDER AN3) INCENDIARISM) (Received June 2, 8.40 -p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The shooting in Belfast has been marked by most atrocious crimes. Many have been killed in their bouses, where rival factions pursued them, and the houses in which corpses kty were set on fire. The bodies were rescued just in time to prevent cremation. In some instances the firemen’s hoses were played over themselves. Bayonet charges by the military dispelled tjbe mobs, who joined in an appalling battle. The situation 13 still grave. EntiiW families are fieeulg in panic. LONDON, June 1. There was considerable firing in the Grosvenor road district of Belfast today. The Crown forces vigorously replied to the snipers. An eleven-year-old lad was killed, aid several. people were injured. Several bombs were thrown into tram cars last night. The gunmen’s firing is said to he the most extensive that has ever occurred. TRUCE DECLARED AT STRABANE AND LIFFORD. LONDON, Jnne 1. A truce has been declared at Strabane and Lifford, and has so far been honourably observed, and road traffic has been resumed.