IRISH UNREST.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 46, Issue 14098, 15 April 1920, Page 5

IRISH UNREST.

HUNGER-STRIKERS. < ‘ DUBLIN FEVERISHLY EXCITED.” (By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received Thursday, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday. The Irish strike has been prolonged indefinitely. The acting-Lord Mayor of Dublin was refused admission to the Mountjoy prison, but received an official bulletin stating that “all the prisoners were in a very weak state, and that anything may happen in the next 24 hours. ’ ’

The acting-Lord Mayor telegraphed to Mr Maepherson, pointing out that Dublin was feverishly excited, and appealing to him to intervene in the interests of peace and humanity. He also wired a similar appeal to the American Ambassador in London. CONTRADICTORY REPORTS. (United Service.) LONDON. Tuesday. All the dockers" at'.Belfast are out. Symptoms resembling the Dublin conditions are reported from Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary, and many other centres. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, Tuesday. : The trade unions in Belfast and the North of Ireland‘generally have, jgnop. cd the .strike order. ■; „. government firm. ~ LQNDON, Tuesday. , la the House of Commons', the.Attor-ney-'Gdnefal for Ireland (Mr Samuels) stated - that the latest report on the Irish prisoners who were hunger-strik-ing was that they were weak, and some were nearing the danger zone. The prisoners included a number convicted before an ordinary jury. All had been forewarned against persisting in their conduct. The AttorneyGeneral mentioned that a- similar recent strike at Wormwood Scrubs Prison was abandoned. Mr T. 1N Q ‘Connor emphasised the gravity of the condition of the hungerstrikers at Mountjoy, who should be treated as political prisoners. If the strikers died the effect upon the already inflamed people would bo deplorable. Mr J. R. Clynes, in supporting Mr O'Connor, warned the Government of the danger of Labour action in Ireland spreading to this country. The Attorney-General for Ireland urged that the arrests were in accordance with the law. The men were simply, attempting suicide. Ameliorative treatment; for. convicted .prisoners had been demanded, which-Lord French had no power to give. Untried prisoners were treated under special rules. They would certainly be tried if possibe, but the necessary witnesses were not procurable owing to the- terrorism which was exercised in Ireland, He defended the iise of the military, as 10,000 constabulary were no longer able to maintain order. By the use of the military large stores of explosives, which otherwise could, not have been tackled, were - captured. Thus risings in different parts of the country had been prevented; Mr Bonar Law again emphasised that there was no possibility of a change in the decision of the Government, which must resist terrorism and arrest suspects. Their subsequent release because suicide was threatened would make the maintenance of law and order impossible.

“APPALLING TRAGEDY IMMINENT.” \ (Received Thursday, 9.d0 a.m.) LONDON, Tuesday,; The Irish strike has rendered idle 250,000 persons. The chairman and secretary of. the Irish Trade Union Congress,; in a, manifesto, announces a continuance of the strike,; and appeals to the citizens, to preserve order. ■ • The proclamation states: “To-day s demonstration has impressed the world. Let nothing, happen bn our part lo give the military occasion for an outbreak of violence.” Twenty thousand demonstrated outside Mountjoy Prison. The belief is expressed that prayers are keeping tlie prisoners alive. Several are in a state of collapse. Irish Bishops, at a meeting at Dublin, passed a resolution drawing- attention to the fact that an appalling tragedy ■was seemingly imminent. If disastei ensues from this insensate course, the responsibility must rest on the Government, which has substituted cruelty, vengeance, and gross injustice f° l equity and fair-play. GOVERNMENT WILL NOT ALTER ITS COURSE. (Received Thursday, 10.15 a.m.) LONDON, Wednesday. Mr Bonar Law, speaking in the House of Commons, said that the prisoners in the Mountjoy Prison were being treated as untried prisoners. It was a matter for the Irish Administration, but the Government had the fullcts confidence in its officials. Murder was so rife in Ireland and the evidence so difficult to obtain that it had become necessary to arrest on suspicion. The Government had no intention to alter its course. The House would deplore suicide by a hunger strike, but thd danger of suicide would only be increased if the prisoners were led to hope that the Government would alter its action. GOVERNMENT BACKS DOWN. HUNGER-STRIKERS TO BE RE- . ’ LEASED. (Received Thursday, 1(145 a.m.) . LONDON, Wednesday. The Exchange Telegraph’s Dublin correspondent reports that the Mquntjoy prisoners are to be released immediately.