IRELAND AND PEACE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16571, 2 November 1921, Page 2

IRELAND AND PEACE.

DEBATE IN COMMONS, ** DIE-HARDS ” MOTION DEFEATED, By Telegraph-Press Association-Copy right. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, October 31. The Speaker ruled out of order Lord Robert Cecil's amendment to the “ Diehard’s ’ motion, declaring that, while jt deplores the Government's lack of policy in Ireland during the last three years, the House is of opinion that the breaking off of negotiations at the present stage is likely to increase the dangers a-nd difficulties of the situation. Colonel G ret ton moved That the House views with grave .apprehension the entering into negotiations with the of Southern Ireland, who have taken the oath of allegiance to the Irish republic and have repudiated tlic authority of the Crown, and in view of the fact, that an Act of Parliament for the settlement of relations between Great Britain and Ireland was passed as recently as last year, the House is of opinion that no nj-oposyls for the settlement of Southern Ireland should be mad© without the sanction of Parliament.’, Colonel Gretton caid the whole country, desired to know what wan going on as regards ttye Irish situation. He reviewed events since last autumn, when the Government was vehement in its determination to suppress the rebellion. He criticised the inadequnteness of the truce lor "the protection of loyalists. Ho pointed out that the truce document was actually unsigned. Tt was plain that the delegates came to the conference in London with the status which thov claimed, namely, representatives of an Irish republic. Colonel Gretton said that Mr do Valera's telegram to the Pop© wa s a defiance to the British Government and insulting to the Crown. Was the price the Government was prepared to pay to secure the alleof Sinn Fein the surrender of two Lister counties? The Government had made surrender to gangs of assassins by bringing over representatives of these assassins and murderers to negotiate on equal terms. The Government had bowed the knee to murderers and assassins without consulting or even informing the British people. The latter were not to be terrorised into tearing up the unity of these islands at the dictation of a small gang of men subsidised by foreign money. The conference had practically broken down. The Government was obviously seeking some pretext on which it should break down. Mr Arthur Henderson said that the Labour Party was supporting the Government, because the motion raised issues vital not only to the nation and Empire, but to the whole English-speak-ing race. The party still was opposed to the policy of reprisals followed by the Government during the past few years, but was strongly in favour of negotiations for peace. Mr R. S. Gwynne. in seconding the motion, denied the Prime Minister’s statements that the delegates duly elected were representatives of the Irish people. The recent elections were carried out under the coercion of a gang of murderers. Captain Charles Craig said that the Lister Parliament looked on the conference aa one between the Government and Sinn Fein. They had decided not to take part in the division, provided the Prime Minister a.ssvired them that the necessary powers would be given Lister to ©name it to function at the earliest possible moment. LLOYD GEORGE’S SPEECH, A GRIM ANNOUNCEMENT LONDON, October 31. When Mr Lloyd George rose there was prolonged cheering. He said that a very gTave issue had been raised. It was clear that a section in the Horns© was full of misgiving. The burden of Colonel Gretton’s speech was that the Government had not shed enough blood. He admitted that there had l>een breaches of the truce. They had been investigated. The Government bad received guarantees which Sinn Fein was doing its ho*t to carry out. The group whom he (Cokmel Gretton) represented desired peace in Ireland, and that there ' should be a conference with the representatives of the real Irish people, who were not authors of the terrorism which had been allowed to grow up. Mr Lloyd George said : “The motion condemns the Government for entering into negotiations with men conspiring ngainst the Crown. The second point is that the sanction of Parliament should have pr©ceded the meeting of the conference. The Government’e reply is that no pact can com© into effect without parliamentary authority. If there is on agreement it will have to be converted into an Act of Parliament. Nothing can be done without the full scrutiny and mi notion of Parliament. It is essential that conferences should ho held belli nd closed doors, where men can make tentative proposals without feeling that the following morning every word would be scrutinised. That is the kind of conference business men always adopt. ’ The Premier said that the House of Commons must either trust its negotiators or replace them. “ If it does not trust them,” he said, “ one glad man will go to his Sovereign and hand in his resignation. “ The answer to the other poiut is that if there was to be a conference it had to be with men who are re-

pudiating the authority of the Crown. The Government, could not negotiate with the Southern Unionists. The Sinn Foiners for the time being spoke in the name of the majority of the Irish people. For the moment the sympathies of Ireland are behind these people. If the ‘Government die] not deal with Sinn Fein there would bo none with whom it could deal. It is impossible for the House to decide with whom the Government should negotiate. The only point it can decide is whether it should enter a conference at alb IN EVENT OF FAILURE. “On the contrary, the House can decide that, first, oi' all, at whatever yost, the Gox'eminent should crush rebellion and then deal with Ireland. If the conference is broken off, and it may be, 1 want the House to feel it has done everything it can reasonably be expected to do. I cannot conceal from the House that I may have the grim announcement to make that It is impossible to settle the question without danger of dishonour to the country. If the conference fails. Uj© first thing the Government will dq will be to ask the House of Commons to considerably the forces of the Grown in Ireland. “ Unless it is absolutely necessary for the honour and security of the country, this is not the time to impose great additional burdens upon the taxpayers and invite young men once more to risk their lives. Before you do this you must convince the people that there is no alternative. If the security of this country is menaced, the Throne repudiated or ■ the Empire mutilated, and Ireland established as an alien country at our most vulnerable point, so that this country cannot use the coast of Ireland for the defence of Britain, then the Government would appeal with confidence to the people.’’ THE ULSTER PARLIAMENT. The Premier said be discussed the situation due to the fact that certain powers were to be conferred on the two Parliaments in Ireland simultaneously. The Southern Parliament had not come into existence, so something in the nature of a Crown eojony would have to be set up. This could not be done until the conference negotiations had been conchjded. “ Meantime,” lie said, “ the Ulster Government is paralysed. Tlie present position is intolerable, therefore wo are willing to give a

pledge, unless something happens in a fexv days, one way or the other, that puts the position right we shall either exercise the > powers we have got or confer the necessary powers on the Northern Parliament, asking the House of Commons to pass a short Act during the present session. (Loud cheers): It would bo unfair to set up a Farlia-» rnent and deprive it of the only powers that would enable it to work creditably/ That would he giving an unfair advantage to its enemies. The Prime Minister concluded that if th© negotiations broke down the country would he confronted by a position of unexampled difficulty, and the Government ought not to commit itself to this or that method of dealing with the situation He .appealed for a«n effort which would encourage an atmosphere in the council chamber so as to obtain, if possible, a favourable settlement. Mr Asquith said that if the motion had been submitted a year ago he would have supported it, but happily the eyes of the Government had been opened, and it realised th© situation. He thought the present time that th© Government was doing right. It would be pedantic to demand credentials and passports and scrutinise the characters of the Irish negotiators. He declined to dwell upon th© alternative to a break up of the conference. Mr Chamberlain t concluded the debate. H© emphasised that, th© Government had got down to rock bottom/ beyond which no British Government could go. PRIME MINISTER’S SPEECH, SINN FEIN WARNED, LONDON. November I - It is a long time since the scene in th© House of Commons was ho animated. JBvery seat was filled and the gangways wore packed, members sitting on the steps. Even the Attorney-Gene-ral had to take refuge in the gallery as the Treasury benches were overcrowded The Duke of York was present. There were a number of interruptions during Mr Lloyd George’s speech, especially regarding the Government’s alleged negotiations with a murder gang, but he generally carried the House with him. There was a stormy scene later, while Earl Wintertou was apeaking.

Mr Jack Jone s addressed the chair, asking “ Why don’t, you call up some of these bounders?” The Deputy-Speaker asked Mr Jones to withdraw the expression. Mr Jones refused and was. told to leave the HouseAfter a protest-, he did so. crying “ I am sorry T ever entered it.” Mr Lloyd George's speech was of an emotional character. Several times h© spoke with great emphasis, raising both clenched hands over his head, particularly when ho asked for the confidence of the House of Commons in the Government as their negotiators. The speech is interpreted in the lobby as a warning to Sinn Fein that a critical point in the negotiations has been reached. The gloomy tone is believed to prepare the publio for a possible breakdown, with tho terrible sequel of civil war. Ulster members generally are satisfied. Tt is believed that Mr Lloyd George will not ask Ulster to give uo Tyrone and Fermanagh, as Sinn Fein is demanding, or give the Southern Parliament superior status to the Northern. The general feeling is that tho secession of the forty odd ‘‘ Diohards ” will strengthen rather than weaken the Coalition, as the Government needs a stronger opposition. . Colonel J. Gretton’s motion, censuring the Government for its conduct of the Irish conference, was defeute by 439 vp ten to 43. WOMEN PRISONERS ESCAPE. TiONDON. November 1. Nurse Kearns and Misses Coyle, Burke and Keogh, political offenders, escaped from Mount joy prison on Sunday night. Nurse Kearns was arrested in Xovember last year for driving a motor-car containing men and much ammunition and arms. The method of escape is unknown. Tho women were not missed until the warders locked, up the prisoners for the night.