IRISH TURMOIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3511, 28 June 1921, Page 18

IRISH TURMOIL

DE VALERA’S PROPOSAL. A NEUTRAL IRISH STATE. LONDON, June 19. Mr O'Sullivan, an Australian journalist, secured an interview with Mr He Valera at- the latter’s hiding place. He says that it was an adventurous business, the obstructions thereto convincing the interviewer that the British Government is not conniving at the freedom of De Valera's movements. Discussing Mr Lloyd George’s Port Madoc speech, lie Valera said that the Prime Minister’s admission that twothirds of the Irish people desire an independent Republic ought to end finally the pretence that the republic was demanded by only a. handful of violent extremists. \\ hat other coni e was open m view of the thrice-repeated decisive demonstrations of a national plebiscite, in which three-fourths of the people proved their adherence to a republic. If Mr Lloyd George would face tile facts regarding the right of the Irish independence as he faced them regarding the strength of Iri.-h opinion for a republic an understanding between the British and the Irish would he miu h ea.-icr to reach. Asked for his views regarding suggestions on the lines of the dominions' status, De Valera said that no such status was ever offered. and until it was possible to translate Ireland to the Antipodes or another hemispli! re no such status was feasible. In order to secure in practice such freedom ai Australia, New Zealand, and Canada enjoy, Ireland, owing to her proximity to Britain, must l>o guaranteed as a sovereign Independent State. Mr De Valera continued: Those who Shink wo aru entitled to the reality of

the dominion status ought to perceive that if that is so we are entitled to a republic. The fact is that while the adherents of the Empire in the dominions enjov something more than independence, vye in claiming a republic seek simply independence and nothing more. Asked if Britain had no good grounds for thinking an independent Ireland would be_ a danger to her, De Valera said that this fear was based on the assumption that an independent Ireland was iikely to be hostile, whereas common sense and everything else pointed to the reverse. Ireland had been at enmity with England because England was actively injuring Ireland, go long as tha\ aggression continued enmity would continue, and the cementing forces of community interest would never be peimitted to ope rate-' because of the violent agitation caused bv English aggression and its reaction- ' namely. Irish resentment. “Remove tin's agitation,” he continued, “and vou will produce a condition which has been impossible through ail the centuries which have passed. ” Asked what solution ho proposed. Do Valera replied : A neutral Irish Sl ate, whose in variability would be guaranteed bv. say. the United States and the States of the British Empire, and any other that could be secured as signatories. We claim complete control over our destinies, but what wo claim for ourselves we desire for others also. A free Ireland would never allow its territory and harbours to be mar e the basis of an attack m-m England bv an outside Power. A native Irish defence force would be many times more effective in keeping opt nil invader than any force England could put here, whilst in case of danger England's own forces would be still available. Any pledge Ireland gives will be kept. Uit.h an independent Ireland beside her, Britain be move, not less, safe than now

from foreign attack. The pride of possession obscures not merely England’s sense of justice, but her common sense. AN AUDACIOUS PLAN. NEW CORK, June 18. Federal investigations disclosed the fact that two of the machine-guns which were seized on the steamer E-astside were mounted ready for immediate use. It is pointed out that the engine room could easily have dominated the entire crew, and could have forced a landing of arms at any place they desired. Captain Johnston, who wa3 closely questioned by the authorities, denied that he knew the names of the men who joined the ship and who left as soon as the guns were discovered. MURDER AND INCENDIARISM. LONDON, June 20. Rebels destroyed Ravensdale Castle in Dundalk. The library contained the only complete set of journals of the old Irish Parliament. The courthouse was also destroyed, and also Warren’s Court (Cork), the residence of Sir A. Warren. A patrol of Wiltshires was bombed in Dublin from the streets and housetops. Seven military and nine civilians were .wounded, including three women. _ A party of Crown Forces fought armed civilians at Castlecomer. One rebel was killed and two wounded. Rebels attacked the police at TliAmsstown, one constable being killed and one wounded. Many ex-service men and other civilians were murdered during the week-end. The attacks on the English railways continue in London. In Manchester three sig-nal-boxes were destroyed and one signalman was wounded. Seven arrests were made in London. An officer of the Worcester Regiment, while motoring last night with three’ ladies at Carrickmines, was held up by armed civilians, who took the officer from the car and snot him, inflicting a dangerous wound. They then ordered one of the ladies to drive to where the officer was again out and murdered. INTENSE RIFLE AND MACHINE-GUN FIRE. LONDON. June 20. Reports received from Dublin since midnight state that an intense rifle and machine-gun fire has broken out. It is believed that a further attack against the Customs House is in progress. MURDER CAMPAIGN. LONDON, June 21. Three military officers belonging to tlie Felthard garrison were kidnapped while they, were walking in mufti towards the tennis courts. Their bodies were afterwards found at Woodroffe, near Clonmel. The officers had been blindfolded and shot. MURDER OF INSPECTOR M‘GRATE. LONDON, June kr.. The father, the mother, and the brothers of Inspector M‘Grath, who was murdered recently, have appealed to Lord Fitzalan and Sir Ncvil Macready to exercise clemency toward MTieon, a Sinn lein member of the House of Commons, who was convicted of tile murder. The appeal urges that mercy shall be shown instead of vengeance, and that the sacrifice of a second life would not aid the bereaved in finding consolation. VILLA GE B URN ED DOWN. LONDON, June 21. The village of Knockeroghery, near Roscommon, was almost completely destroyed early this morning. A lar«e party of armed and disguised men, without warning the inhabitants, set fire to the houses, only three out of 50 buildings being saved. The people rushed from the burning houses in terror amidst constant fusillades of revolver shots, and escaped through the fields. Lord Bandon’s residence at Castle Barnard was burnt by armed men. His lordship was kidnapped, bis whereabouts being unknown. Lady Bandon and the servants were removed from the house and locked in an outbuilding. FORCES TO BE STRENGTHENED. . Sir L. Worthington Evans stated that the Government is sending all the available troops to support the forces operating m Ireland. The unity of the Irish command would mean an'extension of martial law, which was being considered. SOU Til KEN P,.\ ELIA MENU LONDON, June 21. Twenty members of the Southern Irish Senate, including the Earl of Dunraven and Lord Midleton, memorialised Mr Lloyd George, pointing out that the powers under the present Act are insufficient successfully to carry on the government. They urge the recasting of the Act, and say that they are ready to function with a. constitutionally elected Lower House, but are not prepared to act with a nominated body. VISUAL AUTONOMY. LONDON, June 21. ‘ldle Earl of Donoughmore’s motion in the House of Lords demanding a disclosure by the Government regarding the proposed amendments to the Home Rule Act was further debated. The Earl of Desart- and the Earl of Dunraven supported the motion. Lord Birkenhead discounted tl 1C Stic,UOS- ; tion that an amendment of the financial provisions would he efficacious. He said there was no chance of that. The British people would deal with the Irish situation, accepting the necessary sacrifices. Ireland might use fiscal autonomy to discriminate against British industry, and might repudiate its share of the National Debt. The motion was defeated.

AN IRISH- AMERICAN CLAIM. NEW YORK, June 22. One of the officials of the association for the recognition of the Irish Republic in New York claims that the Sinn Eein’rs maintain two submarines m the Atlantic, and that Mr De Valera and Mr Utah laghan (Mayor of Cork) travelled to England by medium of submarines and airships. " The Department of Justice, has ordered the steamer East.side to be held pending investigations of the arms conspiracy. The vessel was about to sail for Dublin. At the Convention of the American Federation of Labour a resolution on he - half of the Irish delegates in favour of boycotting British goods u overwhelmingly reje-ted.

HOSTILITY' OF DOMINION PRESS. OTTAWA, June 22. Esmonde, who is en route to Great Britain under a deportation order, ad dressed a large meeting at Montreal, including the French Mayor and Darling i-Yeni h-Canadians. Ksmonde declared that the newspapers in the dominions were 100 per cent, more hostile to Ireland than the British press. He referred to the “ joko of a toy Parliament” at Belfast winch Mr Lloyd George had set up, stating that the Prime Minister stayed at home while he sent Queen Mary to open it. Mr Lloyd George did not care if the Queen got" a brick on the head.

SINN FEIN CAMPAIGN. LONDON, June 23. Three magistrates (Messrs Fitzpatrick, Gilmore, and Seely-King) have been kid napped in the vicinity of Bandon. lheir destination is unknown. No trace has yet been found of the ■whereabouts of Lord Bandon. June 24. A number of Sinn Feiners drove through the streets of Cork in motor cars, throwing bombs at police stations. The damitge was immaterial. The Crown Forces quickly occupied the streets. There was much firing. A youth was killed and seven men and women wounded. Five fine mansions overlooking tire Valley of Inishannon were burnt simultaneously.

A large force of armed men made a 20 minutes’ attack on the Inishannon Police Barracks without inflicting any casualties. MURE PEACE IU/MOURS. LONDON, June 24. Previous Irish peace rumours and the King’s Belfast appeal are reflected in Mr Lloyd George's official message congratulating their Majesties on the result of their Irish visit. Tlie Prime Minister said: None but the King could make that personal appeal, none but the King could evoke such a response. No effort will be lacking on the part of Ministers to bring Northern and Southern Ireland together in the recognition of a common Irish responsibility. I trust that from now onwards a new spirit of forbear-

ance and accommodation will breathe upon the troubled waters of the Irish question. STATEMENT AND DENTAL. LONDON, June 23. De Valera was arrested at Biaekroek, Dublin, but was released, no charge being preferred against him. Later advices state that Sinn Fein circles in Dublin deny De Valera’s arrest. They state that it is a case of mistaken identity.

Be emphatic. Insist on genuine “NAZOL.” Nothing like it for preventing or relieving coughs and colds. Sixty doses Is 6d.