IRISH PERIL CONTINUES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18439, 24 March 1922, Page 5

IRISH PERIL CONTINUES.

CAN CIVIL WAR BE AVERTED? Tension on the border continues. The seriousness of the situation is fully realised. The Lord Chancellor says De Valera is a beaten man, and that, if civil war can be staved off, the Treaty will have a bigger majority in Ireland than it had in England. DEBATE IN THE HOUSE OF LORDS. LORD CARSON WITHDRAWS AMENDMENT. Received March 23, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 22. In the House of Lords, in committee on the Irish Bill, Lord Haldane said Peers introduced into the House as judges should be sparing in the exercise of legislative powers. Lord Carson said if he had thought he was to be restrained in this matter he would have resigned his office. Lord Birkenhead stated that he advised Lord Carson that he occupied a peculiar position, different from other law Lords. Lord Carson said he was prepared to withdraw his amendment. Lord Birkenhead stated that the grave situation existing on the frontier was a menace to the translation of the agreement into successful practice. He hoped if the two Irish Premiers met they could arrange a neutral zone between the contesting parties to be occupied by troops until the boundary was finally settled. The amendment was withdrawn.

THE GOVERNMENT DEFEATED. Received March 23, 8.50 p.m. LONDON, March 23. The Government was defeated bj’ 42 to 40 in the House of Lords on Lord Dufferin's amendment providing that the British Government definitely guarantee compensation to civil servants in the Irish Free State. Lord Peel said the officials had a Government guarantee, but it would be foolish to put it into the Bill because it would be an invitation to the Free State Government to repudiate their liability. Lord Birkenhead said all information which the Government had showed that De Valera was a beaten man. If they could only prevent cival war on the frontier ,the treaty would be accepted by Ireland by a larger majority than it secured in the British Parliament. The Committee stage of the Bill concluded. A FUTILE SEARCH. Received March 23, 5.5 p.m. LONDON, March 22. Search of the Sperrin mountains proved practically futile. A fewarms and some munitions were recovered, but the raiders escaped.

DETERMINED SNIPING ON THE BORDER. Received March 23, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, March 22. Considerable sniping is going on along the Irish frontier. The border commissioners, who are British officers, are powerless to stop the sniping. which is chiefly from houses against Ulster outposts. Ulster men do not return the fire, which is accurate, as the Sinn Felners are evidently in possession of up-to-date telescopic sights.

"CALL IT WHAT YOU LIKE.” SINN FEINERS SIGNIFICANT STATEMENT. Received March 23, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, March 22. Commandant Roderick O'Connor, attached to headquarters of the Republican army, interviewed, said that 80 per cent, of the army considered the Lail Eireann had no moral right to vote for the Treaty. Questioned if the army executive would refuse to consent to a Government set up by the people and would set up a military dictatorship, Mr. O’Connor said "Call it what you like.”

A GRAVE POSITION. Received March 23, 7.45 p.m. LONDON, March 22. Mr. Churchill, speaking in the Commons, said he thought the whole question of the measures necessary to control the border must be reviewed at an early date by the Government. Meanwhile, nothing was more important than that a meeting should take place between the heads of the Northern and Southern Governments. It was a question whether a cordon of troops should not be placed between the two countries.