IRISH DISPUTE

Southland Times, Issue 21771, 28 July 1932, Page 7

IRISH DISPUTE

THE MEDIATION PROPOSAL. CHURCHES NOT IN FAVOUR. (United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright.) London, July 26. The Pope has not replied to Mr George Lansbury’s suggestion of mediation in the Anglo-Irish dispute. The Archbishop of Canterbury expressed his willingness to co-operate with the heads of the other churches, but suggests that Mr MacDonald has done all possible to persuade Mr de Valera to be reasonable. The president of. the Free Church Council considers intervention at the present inadvisable. The Chief Rabbi deprecates any action. . . . Mr Lansbury replied expressing his extreme disappointment and requesting reconsideration of the decisions, adding that an economic war was a terrible weapon and may lead to more devastating consequences. He urges all three to consider asking Mr MacDonald and Mr de Valera to discuss the matter, while the application of religious principles should find a way out between Ireland’s rush for a free choice and England’s desire for a limited choice of arbitrators. Steel interests declare that the Irish duties are unlikely to create real hardship because of an insufficiency of exports. The cement and. electrical industries are seriously hit, while sugar merchants say the duties will kill the English sugar trade with Ireland. RELEASE ORDERED REPUBLICAN ARMY OFFICER. London, July 26, After a three hours Cabinet discussion Mr de Valera ordered the release of Gerald Dempsey, an officer of the Republican Army, who a fortnight ago was charged with the illegal possession of firearms, and was sent to prison for three months for contempt of court. His release follows a number of stormy meetings organized by the Republican Army demanding Dempsey’s release.