THE IRISH QUESTION

Waikato Times, Volume 94, Issue 14801, 15 November 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH QUESTION

A GRAVE SITUATION AWAITING ULSTER'S LAST WORD, ALLEGATIONS OP TREACHERY. Received Nov, 14, 7.40 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 13, The gravity, of the Irish situation remains unaltered. iMr Milne Barbur’s declaration, which is regarded as official, have completely upset the calculations of those believing that Ulster w»uld agree at the last moment to accept the British Cabinet’s proposals, at least in principle. The Australian Press Association learns that the next few days will be spent in ascertaining in deflmite final terms whether Sir .1. Craig and his colleagues have said ( lhe last word. The Cabinet will meet to-day to decide upon a reply to Sir James Craig’s Note, in which he demanded that Ulster be given an independent Dominion status, which the Sinn Feiners have already refused. The negotiations with the Sinn Feiners have been suspended until Ulster’s position is clearly established. The annual Unionist Congress will be held on Thursday, when it is expected that Mr Bonar Law will indicate the side he elects. It is also expected that the Unionist parly as a whole will say “aye” or “nay” to Ulster. The Grand Master of the Orange Order in England has written a letter urging “every protestan't to be firm and take a stand on the side of righteousness if Britain is to be saved from the treachery which envelopes her.” He Indicates the possibility of a great Orange demonstration in London to protest against the alleged treachery of the present Government. Mr Ronald’ O’Neill (Unionist member for Antrim) is seceding from the Coalition. The Irish delegates have been in Dublin during the week-end conferring with de Valera. They attended a session of the Dail Eirean yesterday. Meanwhile the Ulstermen are feverishly organising Ulster’s Imperial Guards, composed mainly of ex-scrvicemcn, of which 10 battalions have been recruited. Services were held in all the churches throughout the Protestant counties of Ulster yesterday, the Anglicans exchanging pulpits with the Nonconformists, all preaching on the peril of Ulster.

HUNGER STRIKE IN MOUNTJOY. DISREGARD OF TRUCE. BOYCOTT EXTENDING IN TYRONE. Received Nov. 14, 5.5 p-m. LONDON, Nov. 13. Stringent regulations are being imposed on the 150 remaining Sinn Feiners in Mountjoy prison, including atten'dance at mass in groups of three. This is resented as an indignity, and the internees returned to their cells, where all arc now hunger-striking. Indications arc forthcoming that the truce is less regarded in the countryside. The boycott is becoming intensified in Tyrone, where the police surprised a party of Sinn Feiners posting a long list of firms which have been ordered to be boycotted for selling Belfast goods. ATTACK ON POLICE. ' LONDON, November 12. One hundred and fifty armed Sinn Feiners held up two police officers who were motoring in the vicinity of Belfast. The police fired, wounding one. The police escaped, but the motor car was riddled with bullets.'