IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 15, 19 April 1923, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS: CAPTURE AND DEATH OF LIAM LYNCH. Press Association cables to the daily newspapers, under date April 10, states: When the Free State troops swooped down towards the farmhouse the rebels fled before the troops arrived. Liam Lynch and a few followers quickly organised an ambush in order to cover the retreat of de Valera- and the other leaders. After frantic firing, Lynch's party dashed from cover, firing as they went. . It was in the course of this running fight, across the- fields that Lynch was badly wounded in the stomach and captured. The arrest of de Valera is only a matter of time. He is hemmed in on all sides. It is generally believed in Dublin that to-day's events mark the death knell of the rebellion. De Valera, in a letter captured by the Free State forces, says: "No matter what the consequences, the offer of a truce must be rejected, as it would simply amount to letting the Free State function. If we are ever driven to that stage, it would be best simply to quit." One early report stated that de Valera was captured, and while this was confirmed by a United Press message from Dublin Castle, a late cable to the Exchange Telegraph Company reports that Free State officials deny the capture. Conditions in Ireland: Hopeful Indications. London, April 12. The Daily Express's Dublin correspondent says that Ireland was never more hopeful than now. The Government forces are obtaining a stronger grip on the country, and crime and lewlessness are being suppressed relentlessly. The most significant indication of the country's new condition is the fact that Mr. Cosgrave spent the last two days at the races, accompanied by the Governor-General. Such a dangerous proceeding was not thought of a few weeks ago. FREE STATE GOVERNMENT. President Cosgrave's Government, which came into power September 9 last, has completed its first six months, recently wrote Mr. Hassett, an American journalist, after a tour of Ireland. So much has happened within this halfyear that it is perhaps a fitting time to survey recent events in the Irish Free State with a view to assessing present values, moral and political, and perhaps indulging in a hope, if not a prophecy, as to the turn events are likely to take in the immediate future. It may be possible to set down a few definite conclusions based upon observations just made in the course of a somewhat extensive journey through this long distraught country. The first of these conclusions, and it is inescapable, is that the Government is extremely unpopular in all parts of the Free State. That is not surprising. Perhaps it was inevitable that the first Government should fall short of popular expectations. The men whom Ireland chose to rule her have had, and still have, a desperate struggle to obtain the mastery over the minority led by de Valera. That minority, disregarding entirely the vote of the Irish people, which was. overwhelmingly for the Free State Treaty, invoked the doctrine that; they constituted the "enlightened minority," and so claim for themselves a right to rule the country. Republican activity, therefore, since the elections last June, had been nothing less than an attempt at tyranny. In other words, no political theory is sound in Ireland, no matter what strength of numbers support itunless it agrees with the theories held by de Valera ana his followers. Thus it comes about that since last June the Irregulars have been engaged in an attempt, to force a Republic on the people in the face of an overwhelming vote against a Republic. Although the present Government is unpopular, there is nothing to indicate that the opposition is winning any recruits from those who find Mr. Cosgrave and his colleagues have fallen short of expectations'. The country longs for peace. \ , Hitherto Ireland could put responsibility for any of her ills upon England. Now the responsibility is wholly upon Irishmen themselves, and naturally they are finding what a difficult tying political responsibility is. So, although the

public is losing confidence in the personnel of the Government, it by no means follows that there is any wavering in popular support of the Treaty. If a plebiscite such as de Valera is said to favor were brought about, the Treaty would be sustained by overwhelming odds, in the opinion of nearly all those who have openly denounced the incompetence of the present Government. Citizens are not wavering in their adherence to the Treaty settlement, but finding after six months of the present Government that the amenities of Irish life have almost been destroyed and that there is no security and no safety for life or property, they desire a change. In many parts of the Free State one hears the conviction expressed that peace cannot be brought about between the present Government and de Valera followers. The opinion seems to be growing that when the Cosgrave Government retires the time will be propitious for a new deal altogether, in which de Valera. and his adherents will be ignored. It still looks as though the road to future peace in Ireland would be found by way of the Free State Treaty. MR. K. O'HIGGINS ON THE SITUATION: CRITICISM OF MR, DE VALERA'S VIEWS. An Irish exchange in a recent issue said: "The offer of an amnesty expires to-morrow night," said the Minister for Home Affairs to a number of pressmen, "and it is our last word." The President's statement in to-day's papers," he continued, "defines absolutely the attitude of the Government and every member of the Executive Council, and it is our last word. We stand on a minimum that no Government could possibly compromise on, and we will continue to stand on that," Asked as to the results of the offer of amnesty in the country, Mr. O'Higgins said Portobello would be able to speak more definitely on the matter, hut he understood "there has been a considerable crumbling in the rank and file, and, of course, the prisoners, who are freer than the men outside, are practically all lined up on the side of amnesty. It is," he said, "only by terrorism that the men outside are being held."Dealing with the interview given by Mr. de Valera to the special correspondent of the Press Association Mr O'Higgins said:-"I see that Mr. de Valera has re-adopted Document No. 2. For many a lon-/ month the poor waif was banished and its name was mentioned only to deplore its birth. It was banished at the bidding of Miss MaeSwiney, who shrank from its ban sinister of expediency It is back now despite her protests, and Mr. de Valera. even makes a brave effort at pride of parentage-' I am willing at any time,' he says in a recent interview, ' oersonally to sponsor these proposals as the basis of honorable peace ' It only requires a. fatted calf to complete the picture. But I notice that Mr. de Valera refers specifically to ' his alternative proposals made in January of last year.' He is not' yet back to his proposals of July, 1921, supplemented by the oath which he dictated to the plenipotentiaries and the yearly money vote to the King which he explained to his Cabinet was ' absolutely necessary as the outward and visible sign of our recognition of his headship. However Mr. de Valera is really coming on very nicelv, and one can't expect too much all at once. He has made it abundantly clear that ' the cow ' is once more for sale. "Mr. de Valera, professes a certain timidity. < Some Republicans,' he whispers, ' might not be satisfied ' Coy Mr. de Valera! He thinks that some Republicans may resent having been plunged in sin and shame merely for the metaphysical difference between ( common ' and < reciprocal ' citizenship, for the difference between a promise to be 'faithful ' to George V. and an undertaking to < recognise ' him as Head of the Associated States.' Possibly he fears that it was not worth the murder of Michael Collins, nor the breaking of the noble heart of Arthur Griffith ; nor worth the loss of men like Sean Hales, Tom Kehoe, Collison, McCurtin, and the rest; nor worth the burning of the McGarry babies and all that squalid cowardly savaging of their countrymen they have undertaken throughout last year at the bidding of himself and Mr. Stack and Miss MacSwiney and the rest of that glorious band of 'leaders' whose names will be 'treasured apart "and whose memories will be ' green and sweet ' in Ireland for many a lons day. ' ■ ■■ fa "Mr. de Valera need not be cautious. The ' Republic ! has not struck any-very deep roots in the hearts of his associates. The majority of them discovered it on th* 11th July, 1921, and the bigger proportion of the remain, der only when British evacuation was near completion,