THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Otago Witness, Issue 3383, 15 January 1919, Page 19

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

A FEDERAL SYSTEM. (By Cable.) f The Daily News .Dublin correspondent says that Mr Stephen Gwynne (former Nationalist M.P. for Gal way City) is headins a new campaign with the object of. introducing the federal system into Ireland. The main idea is to overcome Ulster's , objection to Home Rule, while at the same time avoiding the partition of Ireland by creating two or probably three -State Governments, with federation under a central Irish Government. SINN FEIN, ACTIVITY. The Times Dublin correspondent states: that the. Sinn Feiner3 have abandoned' ;• their proposed demonstration in the House of Commons. Their leaders are exercising restraint in the hope that Irish representation will be allowed at the Peac* Conference. If, however, this is refused, they will resort to desperate measures, including a general strike. The.Sinn Feiners are collecting £BO.OOO to establish a daily newspaper in Dublin. A Sinn Fein member of the House of Commons named Sears was sentenced to six months' imprisonment for delivering a speech inciting the audience to shoot the authorities when the occasion arose. AN AMERICAN MEETING. Dr Patrick M'Cartan, at a meeting in New York called to congratulate the Irish Sinn Feiners on capturing seats in the British Parliament, said that Ireland waa to the Powers for recognition. If Great Britain interferes with the establishment of the republic the resultant bloodshed will be entirely at England's door. The people of Ireland at the recent election clearly showed that they wanted only one. thing—separation from England. . The meeting passed a resolution asking Presi- ■"•■. dent Wilson to support the principle of self-determination for Ireland at the Peace Conference. Sir Wilfrid Laurier, in a letter, to the. Q promoters of the Horns Rule meeting, sympathised with the Irish people's proposals to govern themselves. & ——- ■ ':.'.. SENTENCED BY COURT-MARTIAL. A court-martiafeentenced Charles Hurley, a Sinn Fein volunteer, to five, years' imprisonment for; being in possession of, plans for attacking 7 the police barracks, - blowing tip naval magazines, storehouses, oil tanks, and the landing-places' at Bejr- fS shaven with-a view to isolating the entire naval base. .-.'