IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 18937, 25 September 1920, Page 5

IRELAND

SPEECH BY ARCHBISHOP MANNIX. ATTACK ON THE GOVERNMENT, PLEA FOR DOMINION HOME RULE. (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) TjONDON, September 23. The Bishop of Portsmouth presided at a reception to Archbishop Mannix in the Cannon Street Hotel. There was a large assemblage of the clergy. Archbishop Mannix said that notwithstanding the indignity placed upon him by the British Cabinet, he remained unrepentant. He had been represented as a firebrand desirous of sowing the seeds of dissension between England and Ireland, but he rarely made a public speech, even in America in which he had not expressed a desire for peace in Ireland. He did not complain of any loss of dignity because there had not been any unless on the part of the British Cabinet. He referred to the case of a man who was allowed to go to Ireland to induce Sinn Feiners to commit on) rages and crimes, but if he attempted to go to Ireland lhe Navy would he mobil-

I>r Mannix declared that the present Government was a disgrace to (he Empire, fluring the war he heard a lot about the freedom of the seas, but the Government had brought .it homo to him. He did not want to boast, but he was actually a chap-lain-general in His Majesty’s forces. Tie opposed conscription in Australia. So did others. His other offence was his being an Irishman. Ho could not help that. He had been approached in his retirement here to make a pronouncement on the Irish question, but he had no message. If he went to Ireland he would endeavour to promote peace, but sis long as he was detained in England and out of touch with Irish affairs, he wovdd not say anything. He declared that the British flag covered outrages and atrocities in Ireland at which the world stood aghast. There was nothing more callous in history than Mr Lloyd George's offer to release McSweeney if the murders ceased.

Dr Mannix added: “My message to England is: ‘Withdraw your troops and police and let Ireland decide her form of Government and the Irish question.’ They are a divided people in Australia almost ns much as in England and Ireland, Under Dominion Home Rule Ireland would become Emdand’s friend.”

The meeting sent a message to the Pope expressing sympathy with Archbishop Mannix.

Dr Spence, Archbishop of Adelaide, had a remarkable welcome at Newry railway platform, which was decorated with Sinn Fein flags. When an address of welcome was presented, the Archbishop asked permission to salute Ireland's flag.

The ceremony of saluting the flag was gre'-red with great cheering. Archbishop Spence said that, unlike Dr Mannix. he had j not been fire vented from coming to Ireland, i bu! he did not know where he might be to- ! morrow, and he did not care. Tire soldiers j of the British Government were committing j atrocities in Ireland as great as and greater I than the Armenian atrocities. REPRISALS. VENGEANCE FOR MURDERED POLICE. LONDON, September 23. i Following on the shooting of four ron ■ j .'tables at Rincon, a party of uniformed i men at night set Ere to IS houses at Ennisi timon. Three civilians were shot dead, i Republican police tried a i ravelling tinker I on a charge of stabbing his wife. The ! Court ordered nine lashes of the cat of nine tails to be administered. THE LYNCH TRAGEDY*. INQUEST FORBIDDEN BV THE MILITARY. LONDON. September 24. (Received September 24, 5.5 p.m.) The Dublin Coroner opened an inquest on Lynch, who was shot in the Royal Exchange Hotel. The military authorities barred the proceedings, as they were holding an inquiry, but the Dublin Corporation's solicitors ordered the Coroner to proceed I unless he was forcibly prevented. | Notices have been officially posted at the l Dublin cattle market warning all persons j against giving or accepting cheques on Ulster hanks nr their notes. Otherwise the j Dublin ('orporatioa will take action against , offenders. ! AMERICAN INTERFERENCE DEPREi GATED. ! SPEECH BV SENATOR. HARDING, WASHINGTON, September 23. Senior Harding, in a statement at Marion, said the Irish question was not one for America to become officially involved in.