THE PLOT IN IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 17796, 29 May 1918, Page 5

THE PLOT IN IRELAND

NATIONALIST LEADER’S VIEWS. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 27. An urgent meeting of the Nationalist party has been summoned in Dublin on the 30th. Mr John Dilion, addressing the Nationalist conference at Baileborough, strongly condemned the arrests and official statements concerning them. Mr Lloyd George was greatly mistaken if he thought his declaration would be accepted in Ireland or by fair-minded people anywhere. Mr Dillon asked if the Government really expected Ireland or the liberty-loving section of the British people to believe that the Government would withhold evidence if it established Sinn-Fejn’s treasonable communications with (he enemy. Mr Dillon added that the united Irish opposition to conscription had caused the Government to modify its attitude. Mr Dillon declared: “Sinn-Fein plays into the Government’s hands. It is more concerned with destroying the Irish party than in fighting for Irish liberties.” The conference selected a Nationalist to contest East Cavan instead of Mr Griffith, the interned Sinn-Feiner. Mr Dillon, in congratulating the conference, said the whole world would notice the decision. He disapproved of Mr Griffith’s arrest, but more than ever was satisfied of the folly of Griffith’s policy. There is no indication that Sinn-Fein will withdraw Griffith’s nomination. The Nationalists are nominating Mr C. Hanlon. ENEMY SUBJECTS DEPORTED. LONDON, May 27. The deportation from Dublin of 450 Austro-German civilian internees has occasioned sympathetic Sinn-Fein demonstrations. THE INTERNED SINN FEINERS. TRIAL BY JURY DEMANDED. LONDON, May 27. Received May 28, 8.10 p.m. Mr Devlin, addressing an anti-conscrip-tion demonstration of 10,000 persons at Duucannou, said that the sold of Ireland revolted against the claim of the English I Government to conscript the Irish, exercisI ing authority to impose a blood tax which j Britain dared not enforce on the colornes. I He demanded the trial of the Sinn Feiners j by a jury of their own countrymen.