ARE SINN FEINERS SEEKING PEACE?

Sun (Christchurch), Volume VII, Issue 2125, 6 December 1920, Page 7

ARE SINN FEINERS SEEKING PEACE?

SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS IN IRELAND. MR HENDERSON BELIEVED TO BE BEARING PROPOSALS. (A. & N.Z.) . (Rec. December 6, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 5. Mr Arthur Henderson, who headed the Labour delegation to f?eland, is returning to England. Labour circles confirm the statement that he is the bearer of important peace proposals. Earlier messages stated:—There are persistent rumours that the Sinn. Fein leaders desire a truce. They are reported to have asked Mr Henderson, head of the Labour Mission, which is investigating reprisals, to approach the Government. Among the growing indications that Sinn Fein is weary of the conflict is a resolution by the Galway County Council, which is strongly republican, expressing sorrow and grief at the shooting, burnings, reprisals, and counter-reprisals, and requesting the Sinn Feiners to appoint three delegates to negotiate a truce and an honourable peace. "The Freeman's Journal" has also changed its tone. It declares that the solid weight of Irish opinion favours peace with the Government, and insists that the murder campaign must cease before the beginning of the negotiations. Messrs Arthur Henderson and William Adamson had a long interview with Mr Arthur Griffith in Dublin prison. They also interviewed the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin, who stated that any effort towards a cessation of violence and other provocative acts would receive the support of the Eoman Catholic hierarchy. INSTANT DEATH TO ANYONE ASSISTING CONSTABULARY. (A. & N.Z.) (Kec. December 6, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 4. The Albert Hall meeting denounced the murders of police and soldiers in Ireland, and also the reprisals, and urged the Government to take steps to bring about a reconciliation and a peaceful settlement. Sinn Fein documents which have been seized include threatening instant death to anyone assisting the constabulary or obstructing the soldiers bf the Republic. According to the "Sunday Times," some of the seized documents ordered attacks on barracks while the garrisons were weakened by the absence of constables attending divine service. The documents detailed the distribution of arms, and contained reports by experts on the manufacture of Sinn Fein bombs. • An earlier message stated:—Mr Asquith was the chief speaker at the Albert Hall demonstration, denouncing reprisals. He was repeatedly interrupted by female extremists, who declared that his Government had murdered the Sinn Feiners who were courtmartialed and shot for participation in the 1916 rebellion. WELCOME IN NEW YORK TO MRS McSWINEY. (A. & N.Z.) (Eee. December 6, 8.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 4. Mrs McSwiney, on landing, was greeted by thousands of Sinn Fein sympathisers, who paid a silent tribute by doffing their hats. The Customs authorities barred the official welcoming committee from the pier. Crowds lined the streets to the hotel, cheering the widow. The liner Celtic, which took Mrs McSwiney, widow of the late Lord Mayor of Cork, to America, arrived too late to dock on Friday, which meant the postponing of the elaborate plans of thousands of Irish sympathisers, who waited all day long. A reception committee, under the patronage of the Mayor and the State Governor, met the Celtic aboard a tug at the quarantine station, singing the "Irish Soldier Song" (the Sinn Fein Anthem), whereupon the steerage passengers joined in, but their voices were drowned by the Cabin passengers singing "God Save the King" and "Rule Britannia." MASKED MEN SEARCH RESIDENCE OF BISHOP. (A. & N.Z.) (Rec. December 6, 8.5 a.m.) LONDON, December 5. Four masked men searched the residence of Bishop Fogarty, Bishop of Killaloe, and stole documents relating to parochial matters. POSSESSORS OF SEDITIOUS PAMPHLETS ARRESTED. (A. & N.Z.) , (Rec. December 6, 9 a.m.) LONDON, December 5. "O'Reilly, a clerk at Queenstown, and two others, have been arrested for being in possession of seditious pamphlets.