SINN FEIN CONDEMNED.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2030, 17 August 1920, Page 5

SINN FEIN CONDEMNED.

ONLY NURSING GRIEVANCES. RESOLUTION OP COUNCIL OF CHURCHES. "I shall feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him," is the attitude of the Sinn Foiner according to the members of the Council of Churches who passed a lengthy motion dealing with the Irish question last evening. The Rev. J. Paterson said that the 'public had been hearing ad nauseam 'about one side of the Jrish question, and it was time that a little was said about the other side. It was a duty they owed to the people they represented. Many of their own people were ignorant concerning the truth, and, when nothing was said about the matter, well-meauing people inferred that there was nothing to be said. It was time the English—not the British, as the charge made by Sinn Fciners was i levelled chiefly against the English—should state the truth plainly. He moved:—"That,- as persistent efforts are being made in this Dominion to awaken sympathy for the Sinn Fein movement in Ireland, and the demand for an Irish Republic, on the ground that every nation has a right to selfdetermination, and as this agitation, unless answered, may arouse doubts in the minds of some of our people as to the honour and justice of the British Government, this council would call attention to the fact that Ireland has made no united demand, but is hopelessly divided in opinion, that, the rights of a million Protestant Cnionists have a claim for consideration, and that Ireland has as full representation and as much liberty as any other part of Great Britain; and would further express the opinion that the political independence of Ireland cannot be granted with safety to the British Empire, that it would surrender to intolerable tyranny a large section of loyal Protestants, and that the demand is based on no real present grievances either religious, political or economic, but rather on an unreasoning determination to keep alive old troubles, in spite, of the generous and honourable efforts of the past two generations of British statesmen to undo them. Further, this council expresses its fervent loyalty to the Crown and its dee)) appreciation of the liberty, justice and glory of our British Empire.''

Mr'Patevson said that Ireland was not conquered by the brute force of the English, and it was the grossest misrepresentation of the facts of history to say so. English forces went to Ireland at the request of the Pope, so that ncace might be established there. The idea that Ireland was down-trodden and ill treated because of the perfidious English was untrue. The successor to the Pope who first requested the English to go to Ireland appealed to Henry 11., urging him to persevere in the good work being done in Ireland. Ireland had always been a turbulent country, and never had a stable Government. The outstanding principle of the Sinn Fein movement was that they were unwilling to forget and forgive. Great wrongs had been done to the Welsh, Irish and Scots, Imt only the Welsh and Scots agreed to forget. It was contrary to the fundamental spirit of Christianity to muse a grievance. The Pev. J. Dickson, in seconding the

motion, said .that, if the British garrison left Ireland, Die two great camps would bo at each other's throats, and conditions similar to what had been witnessed in India would prevail. lie hoped that the English would not attempt to compromise with assassins and cut-throats. He had no faith in the English Government, judging by the mistake of the past. The Sinn' Feincrs had taken the Government's measure, and knew they could squeeze out what they liked. He hoped that Ireland would not be used as the wedge for splitting up the British Empire. Mr A. W. Boaven stated that blngland had done more for Ireland than she had done for her Own people. There was a large body of people in Ireland who did not want to have matters imposed on them, but the majority wore going far beyond the mark in the action they were taking. Sympathy should be given to the minority.

The Rev. W. Beady said he had been a Home Ruler until this spirit of disloyalty was manifested. Then he was ashamed. Miss Roberts said that there were Protestant Sinn Feiners. They had to be, out of sheer terror. In the South and West of Ireland there was one plaea of 6000 inhabitants, ,'iOO of whom were Protestants. No man would hang out a British flag there. The Protestants of Ireland did not want Homo Rule. They knew that, they would be persecuted under a Roman Catholic dominancy.

The Rev. .T. J. North said it was too late in the. day to say that Home Rule was impossible. The English treated the Irish abominally for a couple of centuries, but never so abominally as the French did the Huguenots. England was anxious to right auy wrongs that had been done, and to treat Ireland generously. The motion was carried, to the accompaniment of the singing of the National Anthem.