IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18592, 28 June 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

BELFAST OUTRAGES

MR CHURCHILL BLAMES - I.R.A.

WARNING TO SINN FEIN.

ULSTER MUST NOT BE COERCED.

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright

LONDON, June 26. In the House of Commons Mr Churchill, in a statement on the Irish dedared that‘all the horrors of Belfast were due to the I.R.A. in the northern territory, and the extreme partisan efforts to force Ulster under Dublin role. Ulster, he said, would be effectively supported at all costs against coercion. The more Sinn Fein kicked against the pricks the worse it would be for them; hut, as Ulster had been strengthened, it was her duty to prevent unlawful reprisals. Any Southern attempt to invade Ulster would bo repulsed by Imperial power. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

ANARCHY IN IRELAND

BRITAIN’S RESPONSIBILITY.

THE GOVERNMENT WAKING UP

LONDON, June 26. (Received June 27, at 7.50 p.m.) Mr Churchill, speaking in the House of Commons, said that when the Government signed the Treaty with the Irish signatories, it had every reason to believe that the signatories represented the settled views of the vast majority of the Dail Eireann and the united authority of the Sinn Fein Cabinet. The Imperial Government’s policy all the time had been to obtain free expression without creating partisanship by British interference. Everything was done by Mr de Valera to weaken and discredit the Provisional Government and to embroil vSouthem Ireland with Ulster. Mr Churchill had no hesitation in saying that the horrors which had taken place in Belfast were due to the organisation of two divisions of the I.R.A. in the Northern territory, and the continuous efforts by the extreme partisans in the ‘South to break down the Northern Government and to force Ulster, under the Home Rule of Dublin. Mr Churchill declared that the Northern Government would be supported effectivelv and at all costs if any attempt were made to coerce it into submission to the South. The Imperial Government had supplied the Ulster Government with 50,000 stand of arms. The situation v on the Ulster frontier was much easier. A triple arrangement had been made between Great Britain, the Provisional Government, and Ulster whereby a neutral zone five miles’ wide would be established in the Pettigo-Belleek district. The Sinn Fein had to realise that it could never win Ulster except by the latter’s own free will, and the more the Sinn Feiners kicked against the pricks the worse it would be for them. Mr Chamberlain, referring tp the officers who were kidnapped at Macroom and who were believed to be dead, said it was for the Provisional Government to trace and punish the criminals. The Imperial Government would act if the Provisional Government did not. Mr Churchill, in reply to a question, said he “certainly did not consider we ought indefinitely to continue to regard with indifference the progressive degeneration into anarchy throughout Ireland.” He had certainly fixed In his own mind a definite test of the circumstances and one which would determine the moment for a change of policy.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

GOYEENMENT’S POLICY. THE DIEHARDS’ PROTEST.

CENSURE MOTION DEFEATED.

LONDON, Juno 26. (Received June 27, at 8.25 p.m.) Continuing, Mr Churchill said that the Imperial Government would endeavour to stand between the antagonists to prevent loss of life and the destruction of property. It had been made absolutely clear that any attempt to break into Ulster’s territory would be met and repulsed by the Imperial power. Having regard to the fact that there had been no assassination of prominent men in England for generations, and that even in the height of the Irish struggle no attempt had been made on the lives of public persons in this country, it was monstrous to make the recent tragic event the ground for an attack upon the pdlice authorities or the Homo Secretary. , - Mr Churchill said now that the Northern Government had been greatly strengthened it became that Government’s duty to prevent unlawful reprisals however great the provocation, and he was sure the Northern Government would resolutely discharge this duty. Now that the elections were over there was no excuse for the Provisional Government failing in its duty in accordance with the letter and spirit of the. Treaty, and in view of the wishes clearly expressed by the Irish people we could not continue to tolerate the many gross lapses from the Treaty and the improprieties and irregularities in its execution which we had put up with or acquiesced in during the last six months. The occupation of Four Courts in Dublin by the I.R.A. was an affront, and from this nest of anarchy and treason murderous outrages were stimulated and encouraged. There would be a request to the Irish Government to end this. If it did not do so the Imperial Government would regard the Treaty as formally violated and would take the necessary action to safeguard its rights and interests. Sir Frederick Banbury moved that a reduction be made in the salary of the Chief Secretary for Ireland as vote of censure on the Government’s Irish Policy. Col. Gretton asked what the Government intended to do to relieve the people from terrorism by gunmen. Sir F. Banbury’s motion was defeated by 342 votes to 75. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

MR BONAR LAW’S CRITICISM