The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1920. THE IRISH CRISIS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 17934, 30 July 1920, Page 4

The Wanganui Chronicle. "Nulla Dies Sine Linea." FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1920. THE IRISH CRISIS.

In our correspondence columns Hie Rev. Dean Power, of Hawera, takes us to task for having given editorial .publicity and endorsement to the sentiments expressed by Mr. Winston Churchill concerning the Irish crisis. Our correspondent, we hope inadvertently, puts an entirely unjustifiable construction on Mr. Churchill’s utterance when he characterises it as a “brutal and bombastic statement,” and he is even more deplorably erratic when he endeavours to create the impression that the British Minister for War voiced his opinions in a spirit of hostility to the Irish people. The point made by Mr. Churchill, and it is a point which we do not think our correspondent will care to dispute, is that “no nation ever established its title deeds by a campaign of assassination.” His further words are proof, if proof were needed, that so far from desiring to use the “big battalions,” the Minister for War is anxious only to consummate an amicable reconciliation on a just and equitable basis. When charging him with brutality and bombast, Dean Power must surely have overlooked this essential feature of Mr. Churchill’s statement: We are told that the present Home Rule Bill is not sufficiently extensive in its scope. If that is all the complaint,' the remedy is easy. . Let any reputable body of Irishmen, backed by a strong element among their t'ellow-countrymen, come forward and say: “If the Bill is broadened in these respects, we will help you to put down the murders and thereafter assume the responsibility of governing the country.” Parliament would then be forced to meet them at once in most earnest consultation, and no one believes that minor difficulties would be permitted to obstruct a practical settlement. . . Real reconciliation with the Irish, and a final settlement of the age-long series of misunderstandings would be an advantage for which Britain is ready to make extreme exertions. It rests with the Irishmen of the present hour to set in motion such a beneficent train of events.”

There is no semblance of a threat in these words, no allusion, even by inference, to any thought of using the big battalions “to destroy the vital integrity of Ireland. The fact that the big battalions are not being used abundantly demonstrates Britain's determination not to use them unless absolutely compelled to do so. The orgy of outrage and murder has been in progress for months, yet only a few days ago Sir Hamar Greenwood officially declared that

“there is no soldier in Ireland for any other purpose than to preserve life and order”—to safeguard the vital integrity of Ireland. “The people of Ireland,” he added, “are being terrorised by a few, and it is the Government’s duty to break that terror and give the Irish people a chance to voice their real views.” Our correspondent must know that Dr. Mannlx, De Valera and the Sinn Fein Terror are not campaigning for any reasonable and practicable measure of Home Rufe; but that their avowed aim is the establishment of an Irish republic. But apparently Dean Power and those who think with him have not paused to consider what it would mean to them and to all loyal Irishmen throughout the Empire if Ireland became alien. Speaking at Auckland a few days ago the Rev. J. W. Shaw presented this far from pleasing picture of. what would happen;— “I wonder if the enthusiastic Sinn Fein supporters ever face the actual results of the establishment of an independent Irish republic?” said the preacher in concluding. “Every Irish Catholic in New Zealand becomes alien; at any moment he might become an enemy alien. The Roman Catholic Church becomes at once a purely alien church, supported by an overwhelming majority of Irish aliens. Think of the position of an Irish Catholic in the police force, in the public service! We could uot tolerate aliens —potential enemy aliens—in responsible positions in the Government service. We could not tolerate enemy alien schools in opposition to the State schools. Let Ireland become an independent republic and the whole life of New Zealand is turned upside down. I believe that if the advocates of Sinn Fein, the followers of the wild Archbishop Mannlx, realised what would follow the consummation of their wishes, they would deal more, severely with their leader than we. in our strongest indignation, could propose.” We believe that an overwhelming majority of the Irish citizens of the Dominion will endorse the views expressed by Mr. Shaw. They are alive to the fact that the rise of the British Dominions is one of the most interesting and striking features of the modern history of the world. They know, too, how in the world’s greatest crisis, in the moment of its greatest agony, the young Dominions came forward voluntarily to do their duty. Would Dean Power have Ireland remain the one refractory member of the British family? Would he have her continue to stand aloof? Or. worse still, Moes he. like De Valera. desire that she shall cut completely adrift and become, foreign

and alien? If so, there are many loyal Irishmen yvho will not agree with him, because in «their hearts they realise that “there is no better title in the world, no higher position, than that of a nation in the confederation of British nations.” Colonial Irishmen, we believe, would be glad to see Ireland accept that position, and we believe, also, that Britain to-day is earnestly desirous of making that acceptance possible. Surely there is no true Briton who does not echo the hope for the bridging of the Irish Sea so beautifully expressed by Jessie Pope: Turbulent waves of bitterness toss, Yet in the future, please God, there may be Hands that will meet in a close clasp across The Irish Sea,