IRISH TREATY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18444, 4 January 1922, Page 5

IRISH TREATY

, PEACE PROSPECTS • * IMPROVED. T • ■ SINN FEIN PARTY SPLIT. \ ' BITTER FEELING 'EXISTS. * I 1 IREECON CtLABLES THREATEN TROUBLE. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 2. Most reviews of the Irish, situation forecast an improved tone towards the treaty when Dail Eireann meets, but the irreconcilables do not mean to be silent. The Pall Mall Gazette says that the split inj the Cabinet and in the ranks of Dail Eireann have had drastic results. There is bitter feeling between the two parties. Some of the irreooncilables lvj/ve yowed that they will never give up republicanism, but that they will fight the new Irish Administration 'as they fought Dublin Castle. It is feared that Dail Eireann’a approval of the treaty will signalise activity among this group, some of whom may seek to raise, trouble in any form which may present itself.—A. and N.Z. Cable. / 1 RATIFICATION MOTIONS. STRONG SJIfN FEIN SUPPORT. REPUBLICAN NEWSPAPER’S CRITICISM. MR OE VALERA’S DOCUMENT. i . PROFESSOR OEAHILLY’S EXPOSURE LONDON, January 3. (Received Jan. 3, at 8.50 p.m.) Over, 80 county and district councils, farmers’ associations, Sinn Fein clubs, and chambers of commerce passed ratification motions. . * The Daily News Dublin correspondent states that all attempts to avoid open conflict in the Dail Eireann have failed. A new flood of bitter oratory is expected today. Tho new newspaper, the Republic of- Ireland, is most uncompromising. Its first editorial expresses the opinion that even if the stood aside allowed a Free Stkto Parliament to rule the people it would certainly raise Up the Separatist leaders as it did Pearse against John Redmond. The writer is of the opinion that the Free 1 State is to attract the rich, propertied, and commercial classes, who will become intensely conservative. • The treaty’s only fruit would be the denationalised,- .corrupt, materialistic British protectorate, mockipgly styled the Free State. The country would become less free and more British until a new deliverer was found, wjien the nation wonld be compelled again to battle against the British Empire for honour, God, and ,the freedom of Ireland. Professor Oxahilly’s pamphlet in defence of the,treaty reveals that*Mr Da Valera’s document No. 2 did not propose republic, but contemplated Ireland’s association with »the Empire for defence purposes in peace and war, and the recognition of the Kirig as head of the association. Professor Orahilly points out that an associated State is not practicable.. It would entaJ the concurrent approval of Great Britain and all the dominions. Mr De Valera’s proposed extemjd and internal powers of Ireland did not differ from those the treaty conferred.—A. and N.Z. Cable. , t ULSTER’S WELLWISHERS. MR RUDYARD KIPLING’S MESSAGE. v LONDON, January 2. Mr Rudyard Kipling sent the following message to Ulster: "Ulster has in these' fateful 'days of her choice a multitude of loyal friends and wellwishers, of whom I count myself one.”—A. and N.Z. Cable. BELFAST} DISTURBANCES. SNIPING CONTINUES. . LONDON, January 2. Sniping continues at Belfast. Two brothers named Murphy were shot in a butcher’s shop in York street and were severely wounded. Two other men died from wounds, and several others were wounded. A chance bullet struck a boy aged 14, and continuing its course it lodged in the abdomen of a two-year-old child injpta mother’s arms. |Thore Were also one or two attempts at bombing, but., fortunately they were not effective.—A. and N.Z. Cable. GENERAL ELECTION TAI/K. PRIME MINISTER’S DECISION ! AWAITED. >. \ LONDOJf, January 3. (Received Jan. 5/ at 5.5 p.m.) Newspapers are giving prominence to the likelihood of an early general election to enable the electors to approve of the Irish settlement. The Law Officers consider that such drastic alterations in the 'lmperial relations need electoral sanction. The Conservative mind, however, favours the postponement of the election until the autumn, in order to'allow the reform of the House of Lords to be carried. Mr Lloyd George’s decision is eagerly awaited. —A. and N.Z. Cable.