Prisoners and Peace

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 14, 12 April 1923, Page 33

Prisoners and Peace

FRATRICIDAL STRIFE IN IRELAND: CARDINAL LOGUE AND GENERAL ; MULCAHY'S OFFER. Mr. Liam Deasy, recognised by Michael Collins as one of the ablest of the Irregular military leaders, who is a prisoner under court-martial sentence, has undertaken to assist in securing the unconditional surrender of his comrades, with their arms (says the Free Press for February 17). He gives his reasons for this action at length in a statement which we reproduce below. General Mulcahy, the Commander-in-Chief, in view of Mr. Deasy's action, proclaims a new offer of amnesty to those in arms against the Government which will remain open until Sunday, February 18. Official Communication. The following official communication was received from Army Headquarters on Thursday evening of last week: "Liam Deasy, 'Deputy Chief of Staff' of the Irregulars, was arrested by a Cahir column of troops at Ballinkurry on the 18th ultimo, under the name of John Hurley. He was at first unidentified, but later his identity was established. He was tried by court-martial on the 25th ulto., charged with having in his possession without proper authority one long parabellura revolver and twenty-one rounds of ammunition. He was found guilty and sentenced to death, which sentence was duly confirmed; but before it was carried out Deasy requested an interview with the Commander-in-Chief, stating that it was ' for the future of Ireland,' and intimating that the question of peace had been having his consideration prior to his arrest. In view of the position which he held in the Irregular forces, arrangements were made to convey Deasy to Dublin, where the situation was discussed with him, and on the 29th ulto. he was facilitated in forwarding the following communication to certain of his associates, all executions being suspended, for a period, pending developments. The communication reads as follows: "I have undertaken for the future of Ireland to accept and aid in an immediate and unconditional surrender of all arms and men, and have signed the following statement:—'l accept and I will aid in immediate and unconditional surrender of all arms and men, as required by General Mulcahy. Signed, Liam Deasy.'

"In pursuance of this undertaking, I am asked to appeal for a similar undertaking and acceptance from the following:— E. de Valera, P. Rutledge, A. Stack, H. Colivet, Domhnal O'Callaghan, Liam Lynch, Con Moloney, T. Derrig, F. Aiken, F. Barrett, T. Barry, S. Mac Sweeney, Seamus Robinson, Humphrey Murphy, Seamus O'Bonovan, Frank Carty, and for the immediate and unconditional surrender of themselves after the issue by them of an order for this surrender on the part of all those associated with them, together with their arms and equipment." Nothing lias resulted from this up to the present. Further Overtures. Statements on behalf of 600 prisoners in Limerick and 90 in Clonmel have also been issued deploring the continuance of the fratricidal strife and requesting parole for delegates to place their views as to the urgency for peace before their leaders. Reports from Cork and Waterford state that, many of those engaged in opposition to the Government have given up their arms and returned home.

Peace overtures, President Cosgrave stated to a London interviewer, have come from opponents of the Government in Cork, Kerry, Galway, Clare, Mayo, Tipperary, and Kilkenny. These aim at getting “the men of their own rebel force into the Army-with rank similar to that which they hold.” In short, the President added, Mr. de Valera hopes to bring about negotiations which will enable him to make a dignified withdrawal from his present position.

Cardinal Logue and General Mulcahy’s Offer. In an interview Cardinal Logue stated that Gen. Mulcahy’s offer seemed to him most generous, and if the country was to be saved, it should be accepted.

North Wexford I.R.A. Officers’ Convention.

A convention of neutral ex-officers of the I.R.A. in North Wexford was held in Enniscorthy on Sunday for the purpose of assisting in the Peace efforts now’ being made

by former members of the I.R.A. Mr. T. D. Sinnott presided, and there was a. large and representative attendance. Preliminary steps were taken in furtherance of the Peace movement, and it was decided to hold another meeting on Sunday week, when a much larger attendance is expected.