MANNIX AGAIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 25 September 1920, Page 5

MANNIX AGAIN.

PLAYS THE PEACE-MAKER. HATRED OF BRITISH CABINET. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright, Received Sept. 24, 5.5 p.m. London, Sept. 23. The Bishop of Portsmouth presided at a reception to Archbishop Mannix in rhe Cannon Street Hotel. There was a large assemblage of clergy. Archbishop Mannix said that notwithstanding the indignity placed upon him by the British Cabinet he remained unrepentant. He had been represented as a firebrand desirous of sowing seeds of dissension between England and Ireland, but he rarely made a public speech, even in America, in which he had not expressed a desire for peace in Ireland. He did not complain if any loss of dignity, because there had not. been any, unless on the part of the British Cabinet. He referred to the case of a man allowed to go to Ireland to induce Sinn Feiners to commit outrageous crimes, but if he (the speaker) attempted to go to Ireland the navy would be mobilised. Archbishop Mannix declared that the present Government was a disgrace to the Empire. During the war he heard a lot about the freedom of the seas, but the Government brought it home to him. He did not want to boast, but he was actually Chaplin-General in Bis Mayesty's forces. He opposed conscription in Australia, and so did Australia. His other offence was being an Irishman, and he could not help that. He had been approached in his retirement here to make a pronouncement on the. Irish question, but he had had no message.

Archbishop Mannix said that if he went to Ireland he would endeavour to promote peace, but as long as he was detained in England out of touch with Irißh affairs he would not say" anything. He declared thte British flag covered atrocities and outrages in Ireland at which the world stands aghast. "There is nothing more callous in history than Mr. Lloyd George's offer to release McSwiney if murders ceased," he said. Archbishop Mannix added: "My message to _ England is: 'Withdraw the troops and police, and let Ireland decide its form of Government and the Irish question.' They are a divided people in Australia, almost as much as in England and, Ireland. Under Dominion Home Rule, Ireland would become England's friend."

The meeting sent a message to the Pope expressing sympathy with Archbishop Mannix.—Aus.-NZ. Cable Assn.