THE IRISH TURMOIL

Otago Witness, Issue 3512, 5 July 1921, Page 14

THE IRISH TURMOIL

DEPUTY LORD MAYOR OP CORK’S VIEWS. LONDON, June 28. Mr Barry Egan, Deputy Lord Mayor of Cork, interviewed, expressed the opinion that an Irish peace was immediately possible provided the British Government’s latest move was sincere, but Ireland was unlikely to accept any less proof of sincerity than the immediate withdrawal of the Auxiliaries and Black-and-Tans. As soon as this -was effected the Irish Republican army’s fighting would cease. The Sinn Fein would enter the conference with the most sincere desire to seek a mutually acceptable settlement, which he was confident would be discovered once Britain sacrificed her pride and withdrew her auxiliaries—not the regular army, with which they had no quarrel. Permanent peace would give Great Britain a valuable neighbour and ally, capable of producing five times its present output of foodstuffs and buying correspondingly more manufactures from Great Britain. Mr Egan did not think dominion selfgovernment sufficient, owing to the fear of subsequent intriguing on the part, of the British Government, of which Ireland had bitter past experience. He thought international guarantees of Ireland’s "integrity similar to the case of Belgium should be demanded. He believed that Archbishop Clune came within an ace of reaching a settlement, hut between the meetings and conferences various leading Irish clergy appealed for a truce of God which Cabinet misinterpreted as a sign of weakness, and a division between the clergy and the Sinn Fein, whereupon they broke off negotiations. After that the Cork fire occurred, stiffening the Irish people’s resistance.—A. and N.Z. Cable, people’s resistance. MR DE VALERA’S VIEWS. LONDON, June 28. The Ulster Cabinet has consented to a conference with Mr De Valera. The latter has written to Mr Lloyd George stating that before replying to the invitation to attend a conference in London he desires to meet Sir James Craig, Lord Midleton, and other representatives of the political minority at Mansion House, Dublin, on Monday to learn the view of the sections they represent regarding the unity of Ireland. A special issue of the Trish Bulletin contains Mr De Valera’s letter to Mr Lloyd George. It is as follows: I am in consu-tation with such priti cipal representatives of our nation as are available. We most earnestly desire to help in bringing about a lasting peace between the people of the two islands, but we see no avenue by which it can be reached if you deny Ireland essential unity. Before replying more fully I am seeking a conference with certain representatives of the political minority in this country. Mr De Valera has written to Sir James Cr aig, Lord Midleton, Sir Maurice Dock

rel, Sir Robert Woods, and Mr Andrew Jamieson, asking them to meet him at the Mansion House in Dublin on Monday, in order to confer and learn from them at first hand the views of certain sections of the people they represent. Mr De Valera had further consultations with his colleagues, including an interview with Mr Arthur Griffiths in Mountjoy Prison. The Ulster Cabinet has consented to a conference with Mr De Valera. Sir 'James Craig has informed Mr De Valera that it is impossible to arrange a meeting in Dublin, as lie lias already accepted M Lloyd George's invitation for a conference in London. SINN FEIN AT BAY. LONDON, June 25. The Dublin correspondent of The Times states that the position in Ireland was never worse. Sinn Fein is at bay, and an appalling increase in desperate crimes is feared. The extremists have captured the moderates, -who favoured peace two months ago. The new policy of desperation is attributable to the 'Ulster election, and the formation of a Government, which has brought about the hated partition, and has destroyed the hopes of a republic. This has roused passionate antipathy. REIGN OF TERROR. LONDON, June 27. -A cadet named Hunt was fatally shot and Sectional Leader White was seriously wounded. Both, accompanied by their wives, were having tea in a Dublin hotel when a dozen men rushed in and fired their revolvers. Sinn I einers raided a farmhouse at Emyvale occupied by Mr Arthur Trainer, who had previously refused to pay Sinn Fein levies. The raiders took him out of bed and fatally shot him in a neighbouring lane. A Royal Irish Constabulary patrol was ambushed at Baliycastle, Mayo. The police took cover. They killed one rebel and captured five, with arms, ammunition, and important documents. Another patrol was ambushed at Millown. Galway. Two police were shot d ead. STAMPEDE OF REBELS. LONDON, June 29. An official Dublin message states that while an Irish Republican army regiment;!! meeting was proceeding at an inn at Waterfall the Crown Forces raided the premises. The rebels stampeded, hut 45 were arrested. Walter Leo Murphy, a rebel brigadier, was shot dead while trying to escape. Murphy was wanted for the murder of an officer of the Manchester's and for kidnapping three officers who have not been heard of since, also for kidnapping an R.I.C. sergeant atul civilians. GIRLS COURT MARTIALLED. LONDON, Juno 29. Three girls are being tried by court martial at Cork for the attempted murder

of an officer and soldier on June 23. Evidence was given that the girls were seen leaving the place where a lorry was blown up by an electrically-exploded mine. S O UTH ER N BAR LI AMEN T. LONDON, June 28. Only the four representatives of Dublin University attended the opening of the House of Commons of the Southern Parliament. Fifteen senators were present. The Lord Chief Justice, in his opening Speech, pointed out that the continuance of the Parliament would depend on half of the members taking the oath of allegiance. The meeting broke up. HOPE OF CONCILIATION. LONDON, June 28. Mr Churchill, speaking at the Englishspeaking Union’s luncheon to a delegation from Virginia, said: “If the grave impediment to the growing unity of the English-speaking peoples has long been the condition of Ireland, we have now reached a time in our history full of tragedy, but at the same time not without the growing light of hope. Another opportunity has been presented for Ireland’s rescue from the present terrible position, and for the relations bet recn the Empire and Ireland to be placed on an honourable, free, and enduring foundation. We are h- . d thme ..ill be a reconciliation betv. - th e whose fortunes are indelibly hi but who have had many long ; ... ’ ..it :- di-agreements. SIR JAMES CRAIG'S' ATTITUDE. LONDON, June 29. On receipt of Sir James Craig's reply Mr Do Valera telegraphed: I greatly regret that you cannot come to the conference on Monday regarding Mr Lloyd George's proposals, because its implications are impossible of acceptance in their present form. Irish political differences should be adjusted, and I believe that they can be adjusted on Irish soil, but it is obvious that in negotiating peace with Great Britain the Irish delegation ought not- to be divided, but should act as a unit on some common principle. Unionist opinion in Belfast upholds Sir Janies Craig’s refusal to meet Do Valera in Dublin, and emphasises the conceit of Mr De Valera in describing himself as the spokesman of the Irish nation. Lord Midleton, Sir Maurice Dockrell, Sir Robert Woods, and Mr Andrew Jameson have accepted Mr De Valera’s invitation. .The Dail Eireann denies that Mr De Valera interviewed Mr A. Griffith in prison. GUN-RUNNING. WASHINGTON, June 28. According to a message which has reached the Sinn Fein representatives, no vessel from American ports has successfully delivered guns for the Irish Repub lican Government. The officials deny any knowledge of the matter.

PRISONERS RELEASED FROM GAOL. LONDON, June 30. Mr Arthur Griffith and Professor MacNeii have been released from Mount-joy Prison. APPEAL TO THE DOMINIONS. LONDON, June 30. The Dail Eireann is bombarding the Prime Ministers with Sinn Fein literature, pointing out that a year ago the British undertook to crush Sinn Feinism, yet today it is stronger than ever. An appeal is made to the dominions to co-operate with the small nations, such as Ireland, in the struggle for freedom. PRISONERS AND GUNS CAPTURED. LONDON, July 1. An auxiliary patrol surprised a party of Sinn F’einers lying behind a railway embankment near Castlebayney. The auxiliaries fired, killing two and capturing the remainder, several of whom were wounded, together with 12 guns and a quantity of ammunition. Mi' Seely-King, who was recently kidnapped in the vicinity- of Bandon, was found unharmed in a farmhouse near Cork. SINN FEIXERS SENTENCED. LONDON. July 3. At the Kent Assizes William Robinson was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, and three other Sinn Feiners to 10 years, on charges of shooting at the police with intent to murder while they were escaping in a taxicab near Bromley, after cutting the telegraph wires. At the Newcastle Assizes Sinn Feiners named Conroy. Owen, and Salmon were sentenced to seven years, and John M'Oalinson to five years, for arson. WEEK-TIND OUTRAGES. LONDON, July 3. Sergeant Johnson and Constable Hill were killed and five other constables were wounded in an ambush at Ola, in County Limerick. Constable Shelster was shot dead at Bansha, jn Tipperary. Seven police were, ambushed at Ballygai, in Galway, and three were wounded. Armed men took Francis Sullivan from his home at Rosscarberry (Cork). His dead body was subsequently found near by. Thirty men ambushed seven constables near Sligo. They wounded one and captured two. whom they afterwards murdered m cold blood. BID FOR AMERICAN SYMPATHY. LONDON, July 2. De Valera, in a proclamation on behalf of the Dail Eireann, say's: “The flag of the United States will be officially honoured throughout Ireland on Monday in appreciation of the sympathy and aid given to the Irish people by friends in the United States and as a recognised symbol of the principle that the Governments should derive just powers from consent to be governed.”