THE IRISH QUESTION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16570, 1 November 1921, Page 2

THE IRISH QUESTION.

SINN FEIN AND THE TRUCE By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 29. Some Sinn Feiners in an attempt to observe the truce are lining drastic methods. Worshippers at a Roman Catholic Church at Cork yesterday behold three men bound to the railings, labelled * e Robbers beware. These are convicted of several robberies. (Signed) I.R. police.”

REBELS DRILLING. LONDON, October 29. A correspondent of tho ” Morning Post ” alleges that the permanent staff of Mount-joy Prison has been supplemented by a small force of auxiliaries, whose officer reports that the prison is in grave danger, owing to relaxation of discipline since the truce. Visitors are searched in such a cursory manner that it is an easy task to smuggle arms. The prisoners, who are a formidable lot of men, are commanded by one of themselves in each ward. and daily drilled and trained in physical exercises, and show contempt by refusing to obey the regulations. Large rebel camps at such points as Rahen.y, C!ontarf and Louth are continually reinforced by conscripted youths, who are regularly trained and drilled with machine-guns and other arms. ULSTER VOLUNTEERS. LONDON. October 31. The Ulster Volunteers have reappeared in Belfast, inarching through the city unarmed, accompanied by an armoured car This is the first intimation that the Ulsterites have resumed drilling and training. NEGOTIATIONS OPPOSED. LONDON, October 31. The “ Morning Post,” the only newspaper to bitterly oppose negotiations with Sinn Fein, devoted more than two pages on Monday ’to reciting various outrages during the past three years. This on the morning of the House of Commons debate is a most significant attempt to array for public consumption all the facte upon which opponents of Mr Lloyd George’s policy rely. The newspaper denis at length, with the Dublin rebellion of I9lt>, details the attempt to assassinate Lord French in Phcenix Park in December, 1919, and bitterly denounces the subsequent silence of the Press- Referring to the Irish delegates to the London conference, it says: “ Men who were doing all these devilish things are now the honoured guests of the Colition Government,” afterwards describing Air Arthur Griffith as a moderate, whose chief weapon is the pen. IRISH FINANCE. LONDON, October 31. Air Michael Collins, interviewed by an American journalist, said that Ire* land was more than financially selfsupporting and now was contributing annually twenty -on© millions to the British Treasury. Ulster was not in question, only a portion of Ulster. Without even that part of Ireland which was unfriendly to tho common nationality., the rest of the oountrv was absolutelv self-supporting. With a reduction iri taxation under an Irish Government there would be large amounts of private money available for public purposes, and consequently leas necessity for the St-at* to expend funds on important works.