IRELAND

New Zealand Tablet, 14 April 1921, Page 13

IRELAND

(By Sir Philip Gibbs, in the Review of Reviews.) i:.- ' If, any Englishman can read the report oh the Labor delegation on Ireland, studiously moderate as it is in tone and guarded in statement, without a blush, we do not envy him. It may not concern him to know that the Japanese Government, criticised for the horrible things that, have been going on in Korea, uses the actions of the British Government in Ireland as a defensive parallel. But those who were horrified by the German regime in Belgium can hardly take that view. The report, based on first-hand investigation, shows statements; the "actual examination of ravaged towns and villages, and official documents, absolutely destroys Sir Hamar Greenwood’s pretence that the burning of. Cork was not the work of the Auxiliaries: shows that the Croke Park affair was precisely analogous to the Amritsar massacre; and gives a picture of Ireland under the terror which differs only from German frightfulness in that it is less orderly. Their description of Tralee may be quoted- as a specimen; ' “The whole population seemed to be sunk in the depths of morbid fear and contagious depression. There is no curfew in Tralee, but the streets became bare soon after., the .hour of darkness sets in. . . We were told that the Town Council was compelled to meet in secret in some hidden ravine. Petty tyranny, beatings, intimidation, raids, threats of violence against husbands uttered to wives, brutal assaults to make boys forswear Sinn Fein, to denounce the . Pope,; to spit on photographs of the late Lord Mayor , of Cork, to chant the battle-cry of the>R;l.C. • • * • had left their mark upon the inhabitants. * . ' . Names painted above shops in Irish characters have had to be obliterated under penalty of vengeance. ■ , • The “Black-and-Tans” used to drive about in lorries, . trailing a, Sinn Fein flag through the mud.” h:.uAs to the responsibility of the Government, no reader of the report can feel a doubt. y Yet the King’s speech says i * _ “The state of affairs in Ireland grieves me profoundly. I deplore the campaign of i violence and outrage by which a spall section of my subjects t seek, to . sever Ireland from th§ Empire, and Vlf sympathise loyal servants of the Crown who are endeavoring; to restore peace and maintain order under conditions, _ of unexampled difficulty and

danger. It is my mpst .earnest hope that all sections; of the people in Ireland will insist upon a return ;to constitutional methods, which alone can put an end to the terrible ’ events! which now threaten to ruin that country -and make impossible reconciliation and a lasting peace.” 1 But how, when the people live •in 'a" ; : state of terrorstricken apprehension, are they to “insist” upon a return to constitutional methods? And what hope is there, lin this state of . things, that the Government of Ireland Act, more .appropriately o; designated the Partition Act, will “finally.‘bring about unity”? h’\j/ | . As it is, four Irish counties, were on December 10 placed under martial, lavi.e., Cork, Tipperary, Kerry, and Limerick; and four more on January o—Clare, Waterford,- Wexford, and Kilkenny. Under martial law the death penalty may be inflicted upon. rebels, on persons in unauthorised possession of military uniforms or , arms, and on aiders, abettors, and harborers of rebels. Acts .of “reprisals,” such as the burning of ! houses, also lie within the power of the military authorities, and have already been officially carried out. The proclamation of martial law regularises and legalises the proceedings of the military authorities, Horrible as the actions done under its cover, and shocking as-the 'policy of" which its use is the expression, most people feel that regular war, with all its evils, is less* frightful than guerilla warfare. The analogy between the present state of Ireland and that" of Belgium under the German military occupation is rendered more exact. Nearly all those who have seen Ireland under the Terror agree, however, in believing that the people dread the British soldier much less than they do the Auxiliaries or the , “Black-and-Tans.” - Nor has the 'hope of a peaceful settlement expired. The arrival of de Valera in Dublin is an event of more than merely spectacular interest. He is the titular head of Dail Eireann.

At the end of 1920, Sir Hamar Greenwood stated that he hoped that the two Park aments would be at work-in Ireland within six months.-•/ Although his estimate of time was unduly optimistic, even as regards the Northern body, preparations for its election are well under way, and candidates being selected. The Times talks of Sir James Craig as first Premier of Northern Ireland, it being apparently understood that Sir ,Edward Carson will not take office. It seems, to quote the Times, that “he considers that his work as Ulster leader is done with the passing of a Home Rule Act acceptable to his followers.” It is a pity Sir Edward did not conceive his work in that sense in 1914. He has, in fact;'secured the partition of Ireland into two kingdoms: one of-.which is slowly being trampled to death under martial law. To carry out elections in Southern Ireland in such circumstances would be a farce..