THE IRISH TROUBLE. ABSENCE OF NEWS.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18444, 30 March 1922, Page 5

THE IRISH TROUBLE.

ABSENCE OF NEWS.

There is an absence of news regarding affairs in Ireland this morning. SPEECH BY SIR JAMES CRAIG. LONDON, March 28. Sir James Craig, speaking in the Ulster Parliament, said he would not deviate an inch from the policy he had pursued throughout. He would not have spoken prior to the Conference in London if Mr. Collins had not suggested he had failed to keep his word. Sir James Craig denied that he ever broke any agreement with Mr. Collins. There are still 67,000 unemployed in Ulster, and, therefore, it was impossible to find work for exiled workers, but loyalists had admitted the principle of admitting Catholics when trade revived. That was a great step forward. Sir James Craig repudiated the suggestion that Belfast Protestants were carrying out a pogrom against Catholics. Sir James Craig said he wanted to create a helpful, not destructive, atmosphere for the London Conference, ana earnestly hoped that even at the eleventh hour reason and sense would be substituted for vindictiveness ana hatred. A FANTASTIC STATEMENT. Received March 29, 7.40 p.m. LONDON, March 28. A rebel section of the Irish Republican army, in a fantastic statement, has ordered all officers and other ranks serving in the regular army, and the civic guards, to return to their respective units. The statement declares that neither the Minister of Defence nor the Chief of Staff exercises control over the army, recruiting for which must cease forthwith. FIRES IN BELFAST. LONDON, March 28. Further fires have occurred at Belfast. While a small crowd collected to waich a fire at a jam factory, a bomb was thrown, injuring three. LORD CARSON REPLIES TO LORD BIRKENHEAD. 5 LONDON, March 28. Lord Carson sent a message to the Belfast Telegraph: “I hope to reply to Lord Birkenhead’s criticisms in the House of Lords, but nothing can deter me doing my duty to Ulster. My desire to preserve unsullied the administration of justice is at least as genuine as Lord Birkenhead’s." RAIDBY ARMED MEN. LONDON, March 28. Annie Horkan, aged twenty-three, was shot dead while she and her sister were attempting to cover the retreat of her father and brother from their house at Grallagh during a raid by armed men early in the morning. The brother and father escaped. One of the raiders was found dead a short distance from the house.