THE SINN FEIN MOVEMENT.

Colonist, Volume LXII, Issue 15346, 9 April 1920, Page 5

THE SINN FEIN MOVEMENT.

AN ARMY OF 100,000.

ORGANISED AND DISCIPLINED,

INTERVIEW WITH LORD FRENCH

SPLIT IN THE REBEL RANKS

(Australian and NIZ. Cable Association)

_. tln London, Ariril 7. lne "Daily Express" had an interview with Lord French. • He denied that there was any truth in the report of his intended resignation. He added, "It is true I am fed up, and wish somebody would relieve me of the job, but I am not resigning." Lord French complained that the position in Ireland had been exaggerated. Too .much of the criticism was merely destructive. Nobody was offering constructive criticism as an alternative to the present Home Rule Bill He was always a Home Ruler, and had been more so since he became Viceroy. He totally disagreed with Dublin Castle methods. He was unable to spend £20 without Whitehall's permission, but Mr Lloyd George and Mr Bonar Law splendidly supported him. The Sinn Fein movement meant a reign of terror. The best brains in Ireland were behind it, and its headquarters were in. Dublin. Lord French said the Sinn Fein had now organised an army of 100,000 in regiments and brigades under disciplined officers. Most of the arms had been stolen, but they are a formidable army; The authorities have proof whence the money came and know -who the three treasurers are. Two are'famous men—one a well-known professor and the other a leading Catholic bishop. Lord French says ho is convinced that English opinion 5s being misled by exaggerated reports. England does not understand Ireland one bit.

Asked what the end would be, Lord French replied: "There is clear evidence of a split in the Sinn Fein ranks, which will probably mean the undoing of four Sinn Fein leaders who are behind the Irish murders. Despite the a.ttemot to throw the blame on other shoulders, the Sinn Feiners executed Alderman Mac Curtain, Lord Mayor of Cork, because he refused as Brigadier of the Irish Volunteers to sign the death warrant of a certain man who was condemned to die. This man was later found shot outside Limerick.