IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 12 August 1921, Page 5

IRELAND.

RELEASE OF PRISONERS. POLICY JUSTIFIED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, August 10. Lord Birkenhead, in the House ol Lords, defended the release of the members of the Dail Eireann. He believed that, under the circumstances, the Government had chosen the right course. If it had refused to enter into negotiations it would have been committed for an indefinite period to the continuance of the military and police efforts, but on a far larger scale. No military commander would be bold enough to say what time, resources, men and expenditure would be required to suppress the rebellion. This might still prove necessary; if so they would have been confronted with the position that while peace preparations were being made the world would have seen the continuance of the butchery of the police and Crown forces adding to the long legacy of bitterness. The Government, therefore, would have done a wrong and indefensible thing if it had not negotiated when the Dail Eireann appeared to negotiate. PEACE NEGOTIATIONS. MAY BE PROTRACTED. Received August 11, 8.50 p.m. Washington, August 10. Harry Boland, De Valera’s secretary and head of the Irish republican diplomatic mission, has been advised that arrangements are being made for safe conduct for his ngturn to Ireland to participate in the peace deliberations of the Dail Eireann. Boland states it appears there will be several days, if not several weeks, discussion by the Dail Eireann before any reply is made to Britain. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.