IRELAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18875, 30 May 1923, Page 7

IRELAND.

DEPORTEES' GLA3IS. THE INDEMNITY BILL. DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. HOME SECRETARY'S EXPLANATION. Pree« Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, May 28. Mr Stanley Baldwin has announced that the Government, has decided to receive claims from the Irish deportees for loss in consequence of their arrest. Several petitions have been presented to the House of Commons, on behalf of the Irish deportees, praying to bo heard by counsel at the Bar of the House in opposition to the Indemnity Bill. The Speaker said that many public Bills, in one way or another, affected the rights of individuals, and if the claimants appeared at the Bar of the House on all such occasions they would be listening all day to them. The position was impossible to uphold. On the motion to read the Indemnity Bill Mr Stanley Baldwin said the House •would recognise, as far as compensation ■was concerned, that all legal claims were barred by the Bill; but the Government had decided to receive claims for actual expense or direct loss sustained by the IVish deportees. The Home Secretary would make a statement, after which ho would not take further part in the debate, and would not vote on the Bill. Mr Bridgeman, Homo Secretary, met with a hostile reception from the Labour benches. He said he hoped whatever the House decided to do, that those who acted under his instructions should not be allowed to suffer, nor should they seek to exonerate him by blaming the Attorney-General. 'The responsibility was mine," added Mr Bridgeman. "I claim to bear ita full weight." Mr Bridgeman said he consulted the Attorney-General, took his advice, and believed he was right. The organisation with which he had to deal was a very dangerous one, which might have been disastrous both for this country and for Ireland. Mr Bridgeman then left the Chamber. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, speaking after the Home Secretary's statement, said he was not sure whether he should no longer hold office. Ho did not believe tihe action he took was of any value; he did not believe due consideration had been given to the constitutional rights of the people arrested. Mr Bridgeman acted on an order the legality of which laymen must have doubted. The House ought to censure everybody concerned in the transaction. He moved the rejection of the Bill.

Mr Lloyd George said, so far as legality was concerned, the Home Secretary did everything they could expect a Minister to do to make it clear that he was acting well within the law. Mr Lloyd George regretted that the Government had not seen its waj* to adjourn discussion on the Bill until there had been a decision in the courts. It was not a Bill to indemnify the Minister, but a Bill to deprive those Who had been illegally deported of any rights. He suggested that the Government should add a clause allowing these people to put forward their claims and set up a tribunal to settle them. Mr Lloyd George continued that If an appeal- had come from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa we should have been bound to take stern action. Doubtless the Commons would have been only too pleased to give the Government the powers necessary to cope with conspiracy, but it would nave been very serious if British people were deported to the dominions. That was a precedent which should never have been set up. Lord Robert Cecil replied to the debate. He said the Government had no desire to reverse the decision of the Court of Appeal, and he was strongly of opinion that the country ought to rid itself of war legislation as soon as possible. Lord Robert Cecil said the Government desired to secure for these who had suffered illegal detention the damages which they were entitled to recover in an ordinary court of law. He was quite ready to put a clause in the present Bill which would make that clear.—(Cheers.) Mr M'Curdy intimated that the National Liberals accepted Lord Cecil’s pledge, and would support the second reading. The amendment was rejected, and the Bill was read a second time by 297 votes to 143.—A. and N.Z. Cable. LAW AND ORDER. FREE STATE PLEDGES REDEEMED. • LONDON, May 28. Mr Cosgrave, speaking at Kilkenny, claimed that the Free State Government had carried out its election pledges to restore order, and to see that no section of the community should assert armed dominance over any other section. Law and order were now accepted almost without question. The Government was willing to forget the memory of 1922. Ho said ,he hoped that its lesson had been learnt.—A. and N.Z. Cable. CAPTURED DOCUMENTS. REBELS GIVE UP HOPE. CONTINUANCE OF STRUGGLE FUTILE. LONDON, May 28. The Irish Free State Publicity Department has published the documents seized on Friday. These include one issued by do Valera and the chiefs of the Irregulars of all ranks, which states that their reputation can no longer be defended successfully by arms, that sacrifices will now bo in vain, and that continuance of the struggle is unwise in the nation’s interest —A. and N.Z. Cable. CIVIL WAR ENDED. DE VALERA’S PROCLAMATION. LONDON, May 28. De Valera’s proclamation to the socalled Soldiers of Liberty signifies the end of the civil war ? and it adds: “Military success must be allowed bo rest with those who destroyed the Republic. Other means imtst be found to Safeguard the nation’s interests. Do not allow this sorrow to overwhelm you. Yon have saved the nation’s honour and expedited the law of independence. Laying down your arms is an act of patriotism.—A. and N.Z. Cable. TROUBLE IN KERRY. COUNTY COUNCIL DISSOLVED. LONDON, May 28. The Free State Government has announced the dissolution of the Kerry County Council, owing to its failure to function as a result of the activities of the Irregulars.—A. and N.Z. Cable. PEASANT PROPRIETORSHIP LAND PURCHASE' SCHEME. LONDON, May 29. (Received May 29, at 7.35 p.m.) A Bill introduced in the Bail Eireann to complete land purchase and the establishment of peasant p-onrietonship in the Free State deals with 70,000 peasants who have not yet purchased their holdings, the rent roll being about £1,000.000. The landlords will be given 15 purchase in 4£ per cent, bonds, the Government contributing 10 per cent, to pur-

chase money. The scheme will coat the free State Government £25,000,000 when' completed. Agricultural tenants and landlords will be abolished in Southern Ireland,, and only the owners of the fee simple will remain.—A. and N.Z. Cable. ENVOYS 5N AUSTRALIA. MELBOURNE, May 29. (Received May 29, at 10.5 p.m.) In the High Court the Irish envoys applied for a motion restraining the Board of Inquiry from acting further, counsel for the Commonwealth Government having announced that the Governmet had no objection to such application being now made. ANOTHER REBEL ORDER. FREE STATE RECRUITING STOPPED. LONDON, May 29. (Received May 30, at 0.10 a.'m.) Another order signed “Frank Aiken, Chief of Staff,” declares:—“We will keep our arms until we see an honourable way of reaching our obiective without arms.’’ Mr Mulcahy announced in the Free State Parliament that recruiting for the army had stopped.—Times.