IRELAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10043, 12 October 1920, Page 3

IRELAND.

dWibXJH 13 Y -Mil LLOYD GEORGE. ' ( LONDON, October 8. Mr George delivered a speech' at Carnarvon, where he had au enthusiastic reception : lie said.: “The utkeuce put forward tor murders and outrages in Ireland is that a statu ol war exists, the police being the garrison) of a foreign enemy, but Ireland cannot have a one-sided war. in war you cannot have one s t ol men standing up to bo shot ai atad newer tiring back, in war no soldier ever complains if the other side

shoots back. Are the police to bo ■shot like dogs in the street ‘without attempting to defend themselves? Thu police have endured for two or three years, in a way which is the ’highest testimony to their discipline and restraint, murders of thoir com’ fades and attacks On their barracks. The patience of the police is now giving way, and they are beginning to 'nit back severely. Is it any wonder that the police shoot the muruerers of theiri comrades when terrorism makes it impossible to obtain evidence against the murderers? But order must be rest ored in Ireland however, stem the methods. Murderous gangs must be broken up. Unless 1 am mistaken we shall do it. The Government must proceed ♦with the Bill providing self-government for Ireland.

“I protest, against the doctrine that Ireland must be given more than Mr Gladstone and .Mr Asquith gave in their Homo Rude Bills, not because Ireland needs more, but because crime has been successful and because a gang of assassins is Irving to bully ns into gi v 'ing more. If wc giva Ireland complete dominion Home Rule which Air Asquith now advocates, it wil'd mean that Ireland can have its bwii navy and army, can shut Irish ports ag'-imst British ships, can orl ganiso its own submarine base, can

introduce conscription and raise an army of half a million, led* by Sinn Reiners, who have vowed the destruc tioii of i Great Lhilain. llommi'qn Home Rule in Ireland means conscrip tiou in Britain as a defensive measur Ireland was engaged during the war assisting the German submarine campaign- Ireland stood at „the. gateway to Britain, and the Irish coast is now girdled with British wrecks. Are we to have Ireland as our enemies’ submarine base in the next war? Was ever such lunacy proposed by anybody? “Britain is a great country, which has done more for freedom than any other country that ever existed.* We will not risk its future destines because if the threats of any gang in Ireland. We saw the Great War through at gigantic cost. Wc are not going ta quail at. the threats of a handful of assassins. The Premier added that the. Home Rule Bill would give Ireland every facility to manage its own domestic affairs.