TROUBLES IN IRELAND.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14567, 1 April 1918, Page 8

TROUBLES IN IRELAND.

LONDON". March 2. Many of the somewhat wild rumors circulating- just now regarding Ireland m the clubs of London are pure fiction. Xot only has Chief Secretary Henry Duke not resigned, but the Lord Lieu-tenaub-Qengm-1. Sir JBryan. Malion, shows a$ little inclination to quit as does the 'secretary. At all events, both •will remain at their posts while there is the slightest chance of bringing the Irish Convention to a successful conclusion. f It is absolutely untrue that martial law is to be proclaimed throughout Ireland. The provisions of the Defence of the Realm Act are deemed sufficient for any conceivable eventuality. The position is quite «imn-e. In their anxiety to create a- favorable and sympathetic attitude for a. measure of Home Rule by consent. th° -'Government has ■permitted -the Svum ■ Fein to get- out of hand. Under the flaer of the so-called *'Irsh Republic" disturbances have occurred m some Vx counties almost without any attempt nt official repression. County Clare it.°elf nva« described by one - correspondent as the "training ground for Bolshevism rather than as a district, or' county 'under a stable government." • -..... Generally speaking, so far as the views .of the Nationalists, have been' expressed, tbev show no: sympathy whatever., with the kind of lawlessness perpetrated in* Care, where a group of men forcibly entered -three -farms- and -sadly wrecked them, or for others who drove off -cattle m some districts. They l'ealise tbat the whole economic fabric of Ireland, south as well as north, has vastly improved among the farming folk m, the -past year or so. Farm workers, and the industrial population' generally show marked improvement over previous years, particularly m the days of the old Land League. The matter of compensation for depredations eommiittedj -which already runs into thousands of pounds, must be borne "upon the shoulders of the innocent ratepayer who took no part m the outrages, but nevertheless must help to pay the jpip<n* some day. A .significant incident occurring at Linierick yesterday -was the intervention of a priest with several hunger strikers, who, after hearing the * father's advice for a few moments, returned to their prison fare. The general idea: here is that- the Catholic clergy of Ireland are divided m their sympathy. The Times correspondent laments their apparent inability to control their flocks. Last week Sinn Fetnevs m County Mayo demanded a public apology from the altar by those priests who had previously denounced the lawlessness from their pulpits. It is known, however, that many jof the Irish bishops were profoundly * disturbed at the present state of affairs before the Government intervened. One Nationalist authority m London tells •me to-day there is good reason for belief that the military measures noAV taken •will prove adequate, but that permanent relief and future security for Ireland depends upon Home Rule, either by consent or a bold Government fiat.