IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18512, 24 March 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

REPUBLICAN RAIDS. THE REBELS ESCAPE. SPERRIN MOUNTAINS SEARCHED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 22. (Received March 23, at 5.5 p.m.) The search of Sperrin Mountains proved practically futile. A few arms ana some munitions were recovered, but the raiders escaped.—A. and N.Z. Cable. EREEi STATE BILL. DEBATE IN THE LORDS. LONDON, March 22. (Received March 23, at 5.5 p.m.) In the House of Lords, in committee on the Irish Bill, Lord Haldane said that peers who were introduced into the House as Judges should be sparing in the exercise of their Legislative powers. Lord Curzon said if he had thought he was to be restrained in this matter he would have resigned his office. Lord Birkenhead stated that he advised Lord Carson that he occupied a peculiar position—one that was different from that of the other law Lords. Lord Carson said he was prepared to withdraw his amendment. Lord Birkenhead stated that the grave situation existing on the frontier was a menace to the translation of the agreement into successful practice. He hoped that if two Irish Premiers met they would arrange a neutral zone between the contesting parties, to be occupied by troops until the boundary question is finally settled. The amendment was withdrawn. —A. and N.Z. Cable. CIVIL SERVANTS IN FREE STATE. QUESTION OF COMPENSATION. LONDON, March 22. (Received March 23, at 8.30 p.m.) The Government was defeated by 42 votes to 40 in the House of Lords on Lord Dufferin’s amendment providing that the British Government shall definitely guarantee compensation to civil servants in the Irish Free State. Viscount Peel said that officials had a Government guarantee, but it would bo foolish to put it into a Bill because it would be an invitation to the Free State Government to repudiate its liability. Lord Birkenhead said that all the information which the Government had showed that Mr de Valera was a beaten man. If they could onlv prevent civil war on the frontier the Treaty would be accepted by Ireland by a larger majority than it secured in the British Parliament. The committee stage of the Bill has conconcluded. —A. and N.Z. Cable. THE FRONTIER DISPUTE. SINN FEIN SNIPERS BUSY. ULSTER OUTPOSTS FIRED AT. LONDON, March 22. (Received March 23, at 7.45 p.m.) Considerable sniping is going on along the Irish frontier. The Border Commissioners, who are British officers, are powerless to stop the sniping, which is chiefly from houses against the Ulster outposts. The Ulstermen do not return the fire, which is accurate, as the Sinn Feiners are evidently in possession of up-to-date telescopic sights.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CONTROLLING THE BORDER GOVERNMENT MEASURES NECESSARY. LONDON, March 22. (Received March 23, at 7.45 p.m.) Mr Churchill, speaking in the House of Commons, said he thought the whole question of the measures necessary to control the border must be reviewed at an early date by the Government. Meanwhile nothing was more important than that a meeting should take place between the heads of the Northern and Southern Governments. It was a question whether a cordon of troops should not be placed between the two countries.—A. and N.Z. Cable. REPUBLICANS AND THE TREATY. COMMANDANT O’CONNOR’S VIEWS. LONDON, March 22. (Received March 23, at 7.45 p.m.) Commandant Roderick O’Connor, who is attached to the headquarters of the Republican Army, interviewed, said that 80 per cent, of the army considered ’ that the Dail Eireann had no moral right to vote for the Treaty. Questioned if the army executive would refuse its consent to the Government being set up by the people and if it would set up a military dictatorship. Commandant O’Connor said: “Call it what you like.”—A. and N.Z. Cable.