Irish Situation

Thames Star, Volume LVI, Issue 14324, 10 September 1920, Page 3

Irish Situation

LLOYD GEORGE'S STATEMENT

So - Called Republican Army

TRYING TO DISMEMBER EMPIRE.

POLICY OF LENIENCY ALREADY -TRIED.

(A. and N.Z. Cable).

LONDON, Sept. & Som© Papers ar<j publish;'ng; denials of Mr Lloyd George^ offer regarding MeSweeney and ot-hea-s repeat and amplify thorn). In the course of a, statement to Brttisli journalists the Premier 1 stated that jMbSweeney twidoufotedly was cwnooi-ned in a conspiracy against tlte, Gorei'mneint, which, resulted in the murdlei 11 of 85 bravei elevated; men, and tliQ shooting of 178 otheiis. He diflferentia.ted _ between the Sinn Foin, wMcli was n«xt a criminal oill---g'anfeation and tlie so called Rejpubr lican afipy strivingi to dismember tlie EoniMre. Tfhe Gotvernment either must (project tts forces in Irelaiid or 1 withdraw thieani. Tha policy of leniency had already been tried twicio, but every, man x'eleased had iramiediafely engaged" in.-fresh) conspiracies, and recommencied miurdai's of policiei in Irelanid. Mir L%d .George strongly ompliasiseid) that the Republican array was engaged in #. mean miu'dea-i^us warfare upon t3ie British foa^es, seeling by' carefully planned anatroby ; and murdoi 1 to /bring' 'about tlie secessi'oll of Ireland^ ft'osna the Empii'e. Tlie ipeople throughout ."tShb -world inaist realise tliat - thse 1 British Gov- 1 eminent wa^ fac© to fada witli.the same fproblom ns Lincoln before tlie, American Civil Wat alte# the Sotitlierners fought openly and cleanly for .a seaessfoa while the Lrish so^t it by murder. ; If tlx« Republican Army ixmsipiracy in whicilii McSweene^ wa^, dnprolyed had existed dirringi wartime it probably would have been impossible to ovwobmo the submandne nuenace, wiith -the result that the Empire would lia.ve been destroyed. !