THE IRISH PROBLEM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17320, 21 May 1918, Page 5

THE IRISH PROBLEM

SINN FEIN AND GERMANY. A TRAITOROUS PLOT. Proes Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association, LONDON, May 18. A Dublin Castle proclamation states: " It has come to our knowledge that certain subjects in Ireland have entered into treasonable communication with the Germans. Such treachery menaces Ireland's fair fame and military record, which is a source of intense pride to a country -whose sons have always distinguished themselves and fought with heroic valour, as thousands of them are now fighting in this war. Drastic measures must be taken to put down this German plot. It is the duty of all loyal subjects to assist the Government to suppress this treasonable conspiracy and defeat the German treacherous attempt to defame Irishmen's honour for German ends. We call on all loyal subjects to assist in crushing the conspiracy and assist in securing the effective prosecution ol the war and the welfare and safety of the Empire. As a means thereto we shall take I further steps to encourage voluntary enlistment, in the hope that Ireland's contribution will correspond to the contribution of the other parts of the Empire, without compulsion." NIPPED IN THE BUD. PRO-GERMAN CONSPIRACY. ARRESTS SKILFULLY MADE. LONDON, May 19. The Government's sudden display of firmness has caused a sensation in Ireland, where the Loyalists have been alarmed by Sinn Fein raids on- houses for arms and their seizure of farms without molestation. The Sinn Feiners have long boasted that the Government are afraid to interfere -with them. The story of the arrest shows that the arrangements were skilfully planned and carried out like clockwork. A proclamation was issued at midnight on Friday, and the arrests began immediately, most of them being effected before dawn. Arrests were made in Dublin, Belfast, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Dundalk, and 'many other places. Over 100 persons have been arrested up to the present, most of whom were also arrested during the Easter rebellion of 1916. Military motor lorries conveyed those arrested to Kings- i ton, where they were embarked on a i Government transport, -which still remains in the harbour. 1 The Sinn Feiners' Standing Committee ! met in Dublin on Friday night, and most of the members subsequently were ar- ' rested. The police raided the organisation's headquarters in Dublin, and seized all books and documents. When they had departed the remaining Sinn Feiners hung out a placard inscribed, " Business as usual." De Valera was arrested at his home at Gerystones, and the Counteee Marckievitz at Rathmines at 1 o'clock in the morning. The only resistance was at Skibbereen, where Ted O'Driscoll and i-ve others in his house fought the police. 3'Driscoll received a revolver bullet wound in the arm. Patrick Hogan, head of the Irish Volunteers in Cashel, evaded wrest by escaping through a -window and running across the adjoining convent grounds to open country. Lloyd's News's Cork correspondent says it is stated there that prominent Sinn Feiners had declared that the Irish Republicans had made a good treaty with Germany, but the general public did not believe the statement. The latest reports show that no excitement prevails either in the North or the South. Those arrested include Peter Hughes, chairman of the Dundalk Urban Council; George Nicols, coroner for Galway; George Geraghty, chairman of the Roscommon Town Commissioners ; Dr Richard Hayes, Sean Milloy, and Sean M'Entee, members of the Sinn Fein executive; and a number of captains of the Irish Volunteers in the provincial centres. WHAT WILL MR DILLON DO? NATIONALIST MEETING CALLED, < LONDON, May 19. (Received May 20. at 8 p.m.) Some accounts place tiie total arrests in Ireland as high as 500. The newspapers are asking what will Mr Dillon do. A Nationalist meeting has been summoned for Monday to discuss the situation. Mr O'Brien, M.P., suggests that the first effective answer Ireland can give the Government would be the unanimous election of Arthur Griffith (one of the arrested men) for East Cavan. THE GERMAN PLOT. A STAIN ON IRELAND. STRONG PRESS COMMENT. LONDON, May 19. (Received May 20, at 8 p.m.) The Irish Times "(Unionist) <iays : "This German plot is not only a conspiracy against the Allied cause, but against Ireland's honour. If it should succeed, with the help of even a handful of Irish traitors and fanatics, it would involve the country in deathless shame, wiping out the splendid record of Irish soldiers in this and former wars." The Obesrver says : '* The reality and seriousness of the Uerman plot have been known for some time. In view of the present urgency of the whole war position, this repeated treason must be put down with an unflinching hand." The Observer strongly criticises the Nationalists' manifesto to America, and their failure to repudiate Sinn Fein. ADDITIONAL ARRESTS. LONDON, May 19. (Received May 20, at 9.30 p.m.) Further arrests include J. M'Guinness (Siim Fein M.P. for Longford) and Professor Monaghan. AN IMPUDENT OUTRAGE. DUKE OF ABERCORN'S RESIDENCE RAIDED. LONDON, May 19. (Received May 20, at 9.30 p.m.) Masked Sinn Seiners in motor cars on Saturday raided the Duke of Abercorn's residence (Baronscourt). They cut the telephone, placed the gatekeepers under guard, and searched the castle for arms without result. CHIEF SECRETARY'S BELIEF. HEART OF IRELAND RIGHT. NUMBER OF TRAITORS FEW. LONDON, May 19. (Received May at 9.30 p.m.) Mr Shortt, Chief Secretary for Ireland, states that the number of Irishmen and Irishwomen in active co-operation with the Germans is very small, but others may become involved. The Government believes that it can rely upon Irish support irrespective of creed or politics in the measures taken. NATIONALIST JOURNAL'S PROTEST. "A FEW FOOLISH MEN." ' LONDON, May 19. (Received May 20, at 9.30 p.m.) Freeman's Journal says: "Possibly a few foolish men in Ireland may have entered into a conspiracy invoking German aid, but the Irish have never been pro-German. The proclamation means that conscription will be launched under cover of the revelations of the alleged German plot." SINN FEINERS IN AMERICA. PRESIDENT'S AID SOUGHT. NEW YORK, May 19. (Received May 21, at 1 a.m.) A turbulent meeting of sympathisers with Sinn Feiners carried a resolution urging the President and Oongrtas to

vigorously aid Ireland in the fight for Home Rule. The meeting also carried resolutions declaring that President Wilson's declaration in favour of self-rule and self-determination eliouild apply to Ireland, which was now held by England's military force alone. England's rule in Ireland had been a complete failure. Tile Irish question was internal, and unless it was settled it would be a permruTent danger to the world' 6 peace. The speakers included James LarkinAt a second meeting speakers declared that England's policy will result in the massacre of Irish men, women, and children. All sympathisers pledged themselves to petition the United States Government asking aid for Home Hole and against conscription. DUBLIN CROWDED, BUT QUIET. Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association. LONDON, May 20. (Received May 21, at 1 a.m.) Count Plunkett, M.P., was arrested in Dublin, where the streets were crowded. The night passed quietly, groups discussing the arrests. GENERAL SMUTS'S COMMON SENSE. COMMON OBLIGATIONS IN A COMMON CAUSE. LONDON, May 19. General Smuts, at a Glasgow function, in thanking the university for conferring on him the degree of Doctor of Laws, said, referring to Ireland, that it would not be right that anybody should be an exception to the common obligation of the common duties of the common Empire. It was the Empire's aim to solve the long, dreary Irish problem, and it should prove soluble, just as the bigger problem of South Africa had been proved. We found some talking hysterically of a republic, and others appealing to the enemy, or of having their wrongs righted at the peace conference. Ireland need not go to the peace conference to get her wrongs righted. He ad■vised her to apply to the Empire's highest court of appeal—namely, the Imperial Conference.