THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919. THE IRISH SITUATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17730, 15 September 1919, Page 4

THE OTAGO DAILY TIMES MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1919. THE IRISH SITUATION.

The announcement that additional areas in Ireland have been '-'proclaimed," those affected being in "the county of Cors, vrill cause no surprise in the light of recent operations. The circumstances in "which these measures - for the preservation of order in Ireland are being taken are not on that account any the less regrettable. Of the methods practised by the agents or adherents of the Sinn Fein organisation - it is sufficient to say -that they are antiBritish and au evil and a menace. It is to be deplored that events occurring in Ireland should bo forcing the Government to extend the policy which represents reprisals against tho perpetrators of outrages. These outrages demand repressive action, and punishment of the guilty where possible, and the Government is bound to take steps to chcck displays of lawlessness. It is rather singular that, at a time when a bitter and dangerous temper is being shown among extremists of tho Sinn Fein organisation, when outrages directed against the organised authority of the country aro frequent, when disorder and unrest disturb the present

and darken the futuro of Ireland, tho Lord Lieutenant should bo able to make the claim that there is no country in the world that is mere prosperous today than Ireland. It is probable that the claim is one which may bs statistically justified. The coincidence of national prosperity with the occurrence of national discontent and of national resentment is certainly unusual. It represents, however, a decidedly hopeful sign. It suggests that tho forces of disorder may bo less numerous and less formidablo than they are commonly supposed to be, and that, as was recently observed, behind all tho political exuberance there is, on another plane, a calm tc.nity in the Irish people associated with a relentless grasp of material facts. This, however, does not dispose of the need for the authorities to adopt firm measures to ensure freedom and protection from outrage to law-abiding citiaens. Unfortunately, action of this Had on their part seems to represent the sum and substance of their policy in Ireland a " the present time. It is obviously a policy that leads nowhere and can contribute nothing towards that settlement of the Irish question which is desirable and necessary. In a recent reference to the Irish policy of tho Government Tho Times observed—" That policy is ac best negativo. At worst it is destructive, and destructive of much besides Irish peace. It needs urgently to be replaced by a policy that shall be

at once in accordance with the principle of whatever federal scheme may presently be evolved for Great Britain; it must leave ample room for development ; and it must inevitably be imposed upon Ireland by the British Parliament. Within these limits it is for the Government ' to work out promptly the details of a scheme that it can proclaim to tho world as proof positive of the honesty of its intentions and of the firmness of its just will." The inflammable state of feeling in Ireland and the measures it is forcing the Government to adopt provide the strongest proof of the urgency of some permanent constructive policy. The scneme or irlome Rule for Ireland which was accepted by the British Parliament five years ago, and which then had the support of most people, no longer commends itself as suitable when the coming into operation of Home Rule would mean the passing of the government cf Ireland into the hands of those who are mainly bent upon cutting Ireland adrift from the Empire. The outrage committed at Fermoy last Sunaay adds only one more incident to a long list of occurrences that illustrate the necessity under which the Government finds itself of taking firm measures for coping with this particular species of crime. But the situation enlv shows how bitter promise to be the fruits of inaction in the matter of the evolution of a satisfactory scheme for the settlement of the real question that hangs in the balance. A condition cf affairs under which Ireland is regarded simply as a rebellions country in which order must bs maintained cannot gc on indefinitely. What is to be the solution of the problem of Irish Government in existing circumstances thera is no temptation to predict. But assuredly no question calls more loudlv for attention from the best statesmanship of tho Empire. The Imperial Government is not in a hurry to commit itself to a declaration of its intentions on the s-übject. No doubt there are many post-war problems that are pressing, but Ireland represents after all one of the most important c.f these. Som6 way must bo found cf bringing peace to Ireland. Judged by the recent utterances of Mr Lloyd George, the Government has nothing very definite in view, and is looking for proposals, and generally waiting for something- to turn up. The Prime Minister has none the less given his assurance that the Government will notshirk its responsibilities. It must indeed face them in the very near future. The Home Rule Act must be dealt with one way or the other this year. The ' period for which 'the suspension of its operation was agreed upon when the great war broke cut expires sis months after the declaration of Peace. The Government, it is obvious, therefore, must make up its mind quickly as to what it intends to do.