IRISH AFFAIRS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3385, 29 January 1919, Page 25

IRISH AFFAIRS.

THE SINN FEIN PARLIAMENT*

(By Cable.)

Dublin was singularly quiet on. the ev# x of the first sitting of the Republican Parliament. The public was eagerly waiting to learn whether the proceeding* would bo comparatively harmless or provocative. The Government is preparea in either event. i

The Sinn Fein Assembly stood while th* I declaration of independence wee read,. announcing the constitution of an Irish. Re- I public, and demanding that the British garrison evacuate Ireland. The Irish Republican Parliament opened ! its sittings in the Dublin Mansion Housa . on the 21st. Dublin Castle has apparently decided to ignore it so long as its doings are confined to talking. Proceedings will be bilingual, and the official reports will be issued in the Irish language, and it is hoped that the local newspapers will publish them in this form, despite the fact that even the Sinn Fein leaders use English. The first business is the appointment of Mr De Valera, Mr Arthur Griffin, and Count Plunkett as delegates to the Peace Conference, then the declaration of Irish, independence, and the election of the first President of the Irish Republic. The Sinn Fein assembly decided that the Irish Independent Ministry shall consist of a president and four executive offi-, cers—namely e Ministers of Finance, Honffe,' foreign Affairs, and National Defence. At the opening ceremony the proceed- ' ings were conducted in Gaelic. Count Plunkett read the appeal to the nations, asking for recognition of Ireland's national status and the right to vindication at the Peace Conference.

Twenty-three members of the House of Commons participated. Parliamentary usages were closely followed. The proceedings were opened with' prayer, and a pledge was administered binding the members to make every effort to secure independence. The Irish language was used through. J out, except in the pledge, which waa . translated into English.

The Sinn Fein Parliament at a secret; session elected a Cabinet but withheld the i names.

The Times Dublin correspondent states that 12 masked men shot dead two policemen near Tipperary who were guarding a conveyance carrying explosives for a quarry. The men seized the explosives and escaped. A Dublin message states that the military have seized St. Andrew's College, founded by Patrick Pears©, who was executed in 1916.

Three Sinn Feiners. including Mr M'Grath, newly-elected M.P., escaped from ail internment camp in England. From a neutral source it is learned that the Germans are; employing every means to hasten an Irish insurrection. Large sum 3 of German money are still being transmitted secretly to Ireland through Americans and neutrals. German agents are in constant touch, with the Sina Feiners.