IRELAND

Southland Times, Issue 19519, 19 May 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

FIGHTING IN BELFAST SANGUINARY NIGHT ENCOUNTERS GRAVE CASUALTIES. (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.55 p.m.) Belfast last night was the scene of many sanguinary encounters between Sinn Fein gunners and Crown forces. Many casualties in the Southern area included one woman killed and another wounded. Incendiarism was freely indulged in. The Northern area was next involved, large military detachments in armoured cars engaging armed mobs. Terrible fighting continued until the 10 o’clock curfew. The casualties are believed to be grave, but have not been ascertained. Sir William Dakison asked in the House of Commons whether British troops had been offered to the Ulster Government to repel organised raids by the Republican Army, and also whether adequate forces were available in the event of a massed attack on the Ulster border. Mr Chamberlain said British troops had not been offered to Sir James Craig for any specific purpose, but the troops stationed in Ulster were available if the civil powers requested their aid The Government had no reason to believe that the available forces were inadequate. A GRANT TO ULSTER HOSTILE AMENDMENT REJECTED LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 11.15 p.m.) Discussing Sir Hamar Greenwood’s proposal to grant three-quarters of a million to Ulster, Mr Devlin, in the House of Commons, pointed out that the Provisional Government was undertaking to pay for damage done by Sinn Feiners in Southern Ireland, and Britain was paying for the damage done by the Black and Tans. The Imperial Government was now coming to the Ulster Government’s help. That was the British taxpayers’ affair, but what provision was being made for Roman Catholic sufferers in Ulster, who had only received the most meagre compensation under County Court awards? A commission should be established in Ulster to deal with such cases. Captain. Craig said there was an obligation on the part of the Imperial Government to assist the Ulster Government, to remove a heavy burden from a young government just functioning. Commander Kenworthy opposed the vote as the beginning of a vast system of subsidies to Ulster, and moved the reduction of the vote by half a million. Colonel Ward raid the disorders in Ulster were due to the British policy. The Northern Government was taking an adequate share of the liability in undertaking to pay one-third of the damages. Sir Godfrey Collins pointed out that during the current year, six and three-quarter millions would be paid to sufferers m Ireland. The British Exchequer would have to find £3 for every £1 found by the Ulster Government. Sir Hamar Greenwood said the grant was to relieve the local ratepayers of a burden which would mean bankruptcy to the local authorities. The cost of making peace in Ireland would be £10,000,000 assuming that there would be no untoward development. Commander Kenworthy’s motion was negatived without a division.

FAILURE OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. THE BELFAST SINN FETNERS, DEMAND FOR PEACE IN THE SOUTH. LONDON, May 17. It was officially announced in Dail Eireann that peace negotiations had broken down. The Sinn Fein executive in Belfast passed a resolution “On behalf of the persecuted and terrorised minority of this city” calling on Dail Eirean forthwith to establish a stable government, derdaring this conviction that the best means of acquiring peace in Belfast is the establishment of peace in the rest of Ireland; also expressing the opinion that nntil special police paid by the British Government are disbanded or disarmed there will not be peace and condemning and deploring “rule of the gun” for which “rule of the people” should be substituted. CAUSE OF THE BREAKDOWN. REPRESENTATION IN THE DAIL. LONDON May 17. (Received May 18, 8 15 pan.) The breakdown of the Irish peace negotiations was due to the anti-treaty party’s insistence on maintaining the present strength of representation in Dail Eireann and their refusal of the treaty party’s offer of representation on the basis of six to four. 00-OPERATION OFFERED BY DE VALERA. LONDON, May 17. (Received May 18, 8.55 p.m.) Mr De Valera, speaking in Dail Eireann after the breakdown of the Peace Committee. said: “We realise that the majority of the Dail accepted the treaty. If we had the power we would reverse that majority. What we desire to know is, Does the Government desire our co-operation? I take the responsibility of offering it.”