THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17327, 29 May 1918, Page 4

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

THE SINN FEIN TREASON. SPEECH BY MR DILLON. DOUBTFUL OF GOVERNMENT'S EVIDENCE. NATIONALIST CANDIDATE FOR EAST CAVAN. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Awociation and LONDON, May 27. An urgent meeting of the Nationalist party has been summoned at Dublin on May 30.

Mr John Dillon, M.P., addressing a National conference at Baileborough, strongly condemned the arrests and the official statements concerning them. Mr Lloyad George was greatly mistaken if he thought his declaration would be accepted in Ireland or by fair-minded people anywhere. Mr Dillon asked if the Goevrnment really expected Ireland or any liberty-loving section of the British people to believe that the Government would withhold evidence if it established the Sinn Fein's treasonable communications with the enemy. Mr Dillon added, that united Irish opposition to conscription had caused the Government to modify its attitude. Sinn Fein played into the Government's hands. It was more concerned in destroying the Irish party than in fighting for Irish liberties. The conference selected a Nationalist candidate to contest East Cavan instead of Griffith, who is an interned Sinn Feiner. Mr Dillon, congratulating »the conference, said the whole world would notice this decision. He disapproved of Griffith's arrest, but was more than ever satisfied of thefoll y of Griffith's policy. There is no indication that Sinn Fein will withdraw Griffith's nomination. The Nationalsts are nominating C. Hanlon. PRESUMPTION OF COLLUSION. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association LONDON, May 27." The deportation from Dublin of 450 Austro-German civilian internees occasioned sympathetic Sinn Fein demonstrations. MR DEVLIN SPEAKS. MIXED IN HIS COMPARISONS. Reuter'n T*>!eßT»m<i LONDON, May 27 (Received May 28, at 8.10 p.m.) Mr Devlin, addressing an anti-conscrip-tion demonstration by 10,000 persons at Dungannon, said the soul of Ireland revolted against the claim of an English Government to conscript Irish manhood. They denied the right of a foreign authority to impose a blood tax which Britain dared not enforce on the colonies. He demanded the trial of the Sinn Feinera by a jury of their own countrymen.