IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 19479, 31 March 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

THE LONDON CONFERENCE FACTIONS IN SOUTH OUTRAGES CONTINUE UNABATED. NAMES OF DELEGATES (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, March 29. The Irish Conference opened at the Colonial Office. The British delegates are Mr Churchill, Sir Worthington Evans, Lord Peel, Sir Hamar Greenwood, and Lord Birkenhead. Ulster is represented by Sir James Craig, Mr E. M. Archdale (Minister of Agriculture and Commerce), and Lord Londonderry (Minister of Education). Southern Ireland is represented by Messrs Griffith, Collins, Duggan, and Higgins. COMMITTEE APPOINTED. LONDON, March !$. The Irish Conference elected a committee consisting of Mr Churchill, Sir Worthington Evans, Sir James Craig, Lord Londonderry, and Messrs Collins and Griffith to examine various propositions. The committee will meet to-morrow. I.R.A. RESOLUTION. DICTATORSHIP URGED. LAWLESS SUGGESTIONS. IRISH REPUBLICAN PARTY. LONDON, March 29. A dictatorship would overthrow four Governments in Ireland opposed to the republic—namely, Dail Eireann, the Provisional Government, the British Government and the Northern Government, and is a statement issued at Beggars ’ Bush and vouched for by the regular general headquarters. This was part of a resolution carried at Sunday’s convention of I.R.A. and irreconcilables at which Thomas Barry and Frank Barrett forwarded a resolution setting out matters for the' immediate concern of the executive on March 27, including, first, the maintenance of Ireland as an independent republic ; second, the appointment of a chief of staff who would appoint general headquarters subject to the executive’s veto ; third, the declaration of a dictatorship with a view to ordering the dissolution of all pretended Governments by the prohibition of the Parliamentary elections till they can be held on adult suffrage. The statement adds : It was finally decided to recommend the Barry resolution to the executive which will give a considered opinion at the convention on April 9. The report continues : The delegates are of opinion that finance will not cause much trouble as money can be had for the taking. The press could be held by commandeering the machinery or using sledge hammers. The Dublin delegate proposed to withdraw men from the ranks as each would bring a rifle. Another said : Better wait. You will have more than the man and his rifle. It was decided to stop recruiting for the the Free State army. The reference to rifles is believed to refer to .fifteen hundred stored at Beggars’ Bush. TREATY REJECTION URGED. JOINT PLAN URGED. LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) The meeting of republican members of the Dail Eireann at Dublin passed a resolution affirming the proposal to reject the Treaty. It was the sole cause of division in the Dail and country. They are asking the Cabinet majority party in the Dail not to proceed with the agreement resolution, but urged a joint plan of action by both parties, in order that the murder of catholics may be stopped, or no longer committed with impunity. It also proposed the immediate suspension of political meetings by both parties in order to focus public attention on Ireland by the world and the intolerable situation in Belfast. CHIEF OF STAFF’S MANIFESTO SPLIT WIDENED. (Reuter’s Telegrams). LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, 2.55 pan.) Mr O’Duffy, Free State Chief of Staff, has issued a manifesto relieving all officers and men of the IJLA. of responsibility of obeying orders from any superior officer who has severed his connection with the LILA by attending the army convention. The manifesto is a reply to the order by the executive of the convention depriving Mr Mulcahy, Dail Eireann’s Minister of Defence, of control of the army, and makes the split in the I.RA. complete. DISCUSSION POSTPONED. LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, 5.8 p.n-.j Mr Chamberlain in the House of Commons said that in view of tne Irish Conference, consideration of the House of Lords amendment to the Irish Free State Bill would be postponed till to-morrow. ATTACKS ON TRAINS. NIGHT SERVICES SUSPENDED. LONDON, March 30. (Received March 30, 5.5 p.m.) The rebels are pursuing most intense operations against Belfast traders. Futher attacks have been made on trains. One southbound laden with Belfast food was captured at Drogheda station. Wagons were opened and merchandise scattered far and wide. The Great Northern railway has suspended all night goods trains.. BELFAST GOODS BURNED LONDON, March 29. A mixed mail and goods train from Belfast to Dublin was derailed near Adovoyle. Then a force of armed men surrounded the train and set fire to the waggons and destroyed all goods from Belfast. A postal van was also destroyed. A train from Enniskillen to Sligo was also held up and goods from Northern. Ireland burned. A large force from the Free State captured Beloo police barracks, in County Fermanagh, and carried off fifteen police. REBELS’ TRAINING CENTRE. FREE STATERS ORDERED TO LEAVE. LONDON, March 30. (Received March 30 5.5 p.m.) Republican sympathisers at Benmore barracks ordered the Free Staters to leave. Two hundred departed leaving their arms. Duggan took over the barracks on behalf of the Republic and will use it as a training centre for rebels.

POLICE PATROL AMBUSHED. LONDON, March 29. (Received March 30, 5.8 p.m.) A police patrol was ambushed near Crossmaglen, Armagh. Two constables were killed and one wounded. TROOPS TO REMAIN IN BELFAST. LONDON, March 30. (Received March 30 5.5 p.m.) Sir James Craig has cuccessfully appealed for the retention of four Irish battalions at Belfast. R.I.C. CLERKS IN TERROR STRIKE THREATENED DESIRE REMOVAL LONDON, March 29. Two hundred and fifty clerks in the Royal Irish Constabulary pensions office, Dublin, announced a strike to-day unless the British Government grants immediate demobilisation with one year’s salary. They declare that their lives are not safe in Southern Irelnad, and they wish to leave with means to establish homes elsewhere. ULSTER BANK ROBBED MONEY 7 FOR BOYCOTTED WORKMEN (Reuter’s Telegrams). LONDON, March 20. Three undisguised, armed, men entered the Ulster Bank at Bally castle, Antrim. They locked up the manager and cashier, and decamped with a large sum after stating that the money was for the Catholic boycotted workers in Belfast, and that the bank would be recouped.