IRISH TURMOIL.

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIII, 24 May 1922, Page 5

IRISH TURMOIL.

(Per Press Association—Copyright).

London, May 23. The police and military carried out night raids in Belfast and six Ulster Counties and arrested 1500 Sinn Fein officers. Those arrested in Ulster include all persons known to have executive authority. Lord Herbert Vane Tempest’s seat near Cushendal, Antrim Coast, has been burned down. Casualties in Belfast on Monday were five killed and 13 wounded, including a woman aged 60. The city seethed with a murderous spirit after Mr Twaddell’s murder. Though Sir James Craig’s manifesto eased the situation, firing continued in various areas of the city. The victims of assassins belong to both religions. Mr Griffith published a statement denouncing the crime declaring that Mr Twaddell’s murder strikes at the foundations of representative government, and that the honour of the Irish nation is concerned. Sir James Craig in a manifesto says; regarding the foul assassination of Mr Twaddell, one of the most able, courageous, and esteemed members of the Northern Parliament: “I have summoned a special meet, ing of Cabinet and all authorities dealing with law and order. Such an event demands swift retribution. Mr Twaddell was murdered solely because of his loyalty to the Empire and devotion to the cause of Ulster, but his colleagues will carry on. Some may imagine that this horrible crime demands unlicensed retaliation. Let justice and retribution rest with a higher authority; let the people rally pound the established Government and prevent our province plunging into a welter of crime and bloodshed. ' “I appeal to all sections of the community to exercise every restraint to bear themselves like Ulster men and show the world at large that while filled with unspeakable indignation they remain undismayed and self-controlled. “I address the Ulster Parliament to-morrow. The public will realise that the Government’s plans are sufficiently comprehensive to meet any eventuality.”

Desmond Crean was charged at Belfast with being in possession of firearms and ammunition. Documents found on him include an invitation to the secretary of the North Eastern Advisory Committee to summon a meeting to devise a plan of campaign by which the Nationalists in North East Ulster might render impotent the socalled Government of Northern Ireland. The “Observer” says that the Irish Treaty is in graver danger than at any time since it was signed. In effect, the agreement is nearly a complete surrender of the pro-Treaty to the antiTreaty party. The main issues have been shirked and the price of Sinn Fein unity is the silencing of the people’s voice. No opposition has a chance against the Sinn Fein. The new Coalition has artistically stereotyped the present position in such a way that the majority of the electorate must be stifled. Either the Coalition will hold together on the basis of renewed united hostility to Britain and Ulster, or it is a more grotesque sham than the Ardfhei’s agreement of February. In either case the Irish people have suffered betrayal.

“We fear the future of Ireland has been sacrificed to the interests of party. We fear that Mr Collins is not big enough, and that he has found the risk of war with the north a more comfortable risk for the Sinn Feiner than the assertion of democracy for South Ireland.”

The “Times,” in a leader, commenting on the Irish agreement, says no Government in Ireland can be established on a permanent basis unless it will conform to the principles of the Peace Treaty. In view of the new agreement the Parliament and people of England are entitled to a prompt, definite explanation of an extent that has not been lt appears to menace the only foundations whereon a final Anglo-Irish settlement is practicable.

Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons, stated that the Government was not yet able to form any final conclusion in regard to the agreement between Mr de Valera and Mr Collins. The agreement wbuld appear to raise most serious issues both as to its character and the validity of the elections and the Treaty itself.

The Government, therefore, invited the signatories to the Treaty to come to London.

Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons announced that the signatories to the Irish Treaty would confer during the week-end with the Imperi.il Government, also that the Go ver :

was co-operating with the Northern Parliament in restoring order. For* additional battalions landed in Ulster on Saturday, and further reinforcements and ammunition would be sent if necessary. The “Daily Chronicle” in a leader entitled “Ulster’s Peril,” says: The

murder of Mr TwadUell, burnings and looting in Antrim and Down have revealed a new phase of organised war against Ulster. The agreement between Mr Collins and Sir James Craig has broken down owing to the failure of the Provisional Government to impose its will on the Republican Army. The murders and destruction during the week-end are sinister acts of war. The Southern Government must take, the necessary measures. Messrs Griffith and Collins must condemn these outrages with unmistakable frankness. The only justification for an agreement with Mr de Valen* is that they should use their undivided influence with the Sinn Fein to discontinue the war against the North and call to heel the unruly Republican Army. British Ministers take a serious view of the mysterious deal with the Republicans. Many believe that Mr Collins has surrendered to Mr de Valera. If so the clash of the constitution is inevitable.

Mr Churchill said that after the conference at the week-end he hoped to make a" statement to the House. Meanwhile he trusted that the House would refrain from premature, hasty judgment upon the agreement either in d favourable or unfavourable sense.

After detailing the murder of Mr Twaddell and the outrages organised by the Republicans in various parts of the six counties, he said that he had every confidence that the Northern Government would continue to \ grapple with the serious task of restoring order.

Lord Londonderry was conferring with the Government regarding arms equipment of the police force, which the Northern Government was organising. It was the Government’s intention to support the Ulster Government in every way in its power.

Mr Devlin complained that this was a one-sided- statement of the conditions in Ulster. He said that several Roman Catholics had been murdered. Mr Churchill replied,: “I have not attempted to conceal the obvious fact that murders and counter murders are being done by both religious sects, hut the principal fact during the week-end has been the violent attempts to create outrage and disorder in what has hitherto been considered a quiet portion of the North of Ireland. Replying to the Rt. Hon. S. Lambert. Air Churchill said that the British War Office was not responsible for law and order in the North of Ireland, but was responsible for its defence.