IRISH NEWS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 23, 14 June 1923, Page 43

IRISH NEWS

FATE OF IRREGULAR. LEADERS. A Home paper for April 21 says: Mr. Laurence Ginnell, the envoy of the de Valera party in America, has been found dead in his room at a Washington hotel. Dan Breen, one of the few Irregular chiefs remaining at large, has been captured by Free State troops in a dugout at Lonford, Gale of Aherlow. With him were taken Tim Donovan and M. Walshe. Such Irregular bands as exist are now practically leaderless. IN A RING OP STEEL : CAPTURE OF AUSTIN STACK. The arrest of Mr. Austin Stack, one of Mr. de Valera's principal supporters, is another dramatic development of the sweeping operations carried out by the National troops in the mountainous district south of Clonmel. Alone and unarmed, Mr. Stack was found in a field in 'the Knockmealdown Mountains, not many miles from the spot where Liam Lynch, the Irregular leader, was fatally wounded. Upon him was found a draft memorandum, which he had prepared for signature by all available members of tin Irregular Executive, calling for a general laying down of arms. Noting that "further military efforts would bo futile," the memorandum contained a provision authorising the "President of the Republic*' to order an immediate cessation of hostilities. The success attending the encircling movement south of Clonmel has been most remarkable. Major-General Prout, who is directing operations, is of opinion that the Irregulars are completely .smashed in this area. Of the 12 deputies named as Mr. de Valera's "Council of State" only four are now at liberty, and of the latter two are at present abroad. The position is as follows:

In Custody.—Austin Stack, Robert Barton, Count Plunkett. Sean T. O'Kelly, Sean O'Mahony, Mrs. O'Callaghan, Mary MacSwiney. Abroad. —J. J. O'Kelly (Australia), Sean Moylan (America). At Liberty.—P. J. Ruttledgo and M. P. Colivet. FOR A GENERAL SURRENDER: WHAT A CAPTURED DOCUMENT REVEALED. The following is the text of the official statement issued by G.H.Q. with reference to the above: "In a notebook found on Austin Slack the draft of a memorandum, prepared for signature by all available members of the Irregular Executive, and which called for a, general laying down of arms, appeared. The entire text is in Mr. Stack's own handwriting, and reads as follows: " ' Realising the gravity of the situation of the Army of the Republic, owing to the great odds now lacing them, and the losses lately sustained; and being of opinion that further military efforts would be futile, and would cause only injury to our country without obtaining any advantage; and being convinced that the defensive war which has been waged by our Army during the past nine or ten months has made it impossible that the Irish people will ever accept less than their full national, rights; and, fearing it would cause too much delay to await the summoning and holding of a full meeting of the Army Council or Executive—

" ' We, the undersigned members of the Army Council and of the Executive, and other officers of the Army, do hereby call upon and authorise the President of the Republic to order an immediate cessation of hostilities.

" ' Volunteers are required to hand in their arms to ■ pending the election of a Government, the tree choice of the people." FIRST FREE STATE BUDGET: TOTAL DEFICIT OF FOUR MILLIONS: PRESIDENTS APPEAL FOR THE HELP OF ALL CITIZENS. The first Budget speech made in Ireland by an Irish Minister for a hundred years was that of the President of Dail Eireann, Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, recently. Historical, therefore, and important from a mere financial standpoint though the occasion undoubtedly was, it failed to arouse

much interest on the part of members of the Free State Parliament. Mr. Cosgrave's statement contained nothing of a remarkable nature. He prefaced his remarks with a short review of the financial results of the past year. The total revenue was £27,863,000, while issues from the Treasury amounted in all to £30,197,000. ' The deficit had been made good by borrowing, and the Government ended the year with a deficit of £2,000,531, with a balance of £197 in the Free State Treasury. Making Good by Economics. Turning to the current year, President Cosgrave estimated the total expenditure at about £46,500,000, consisting of £42,278,408 for Supply Services, £3,671,566 for Central Fund Services, and £691,700 for capital issues. The revenue for the year he estimated at £26,000,000, consisting roughly of £20,500,000 from tax revenue and £•5,500,000 non-tax revenue. Existing taxes would be maintained so far as possible, but in the circumstances no reduction could be made. Customs would yield £7,300,000, as compared with only £2,500,000 last year, as a result of the new fiscal regulations; but, on the other hand, Excise, which last year yielded £16,488,000. would bring in only £8,000,000, because beer, etc., manufactured in the Free State would cease to pay excise in Dublin on export, but would pay customs in Britain instead. Appeal With Confidence. The tax on motor vehicles, Mr. Cosgrave. stated, ho believed would produce £250,000 this year, compared with £126,000 last year. Discussing the general financial and economic situation in the country, he said that bank discounts and advances had contracted during the past year, hut, on the other hand, the prospects for the future would be great if every citizen of the Free State would do his share of the nation's work. The Government very soon, lie concluded, will appeal with confidence to those who have the interests of the country at heart to serve their own interests as well as those of the State by taking up the Free State debt by internal subscription. Budget in Brief. Estimated Tax Revenue ...: £20,550,000 Estimated Non-Tax Revenue 5,500,000 Estimated Expenditure 46,641,664 Estimated Deficit 20,591,064 STEPS TOWARDS IRISH PEACE. Mgr. Luzio, the Papal Envoy to Ireland, has scattered all the controversies regarding the point of his mission to Ireland, by furnishing a copy of his credentials to the press (says Catholic News Service for April 28). From all accounts this step would never have been taken had it not been for an article in the Freeman's Journal, believed to have been inspired, which hinted that the Monsignor had received no commission to the Free 'State Government, and that the private purpose of his mission had been fulfilled. This idea was further borne out by a communique, issued by the Government, which declared that Mgr. Luzio had been received by President Cosgrave and that no credentials had been presented. Long before that communique was issued the Dublin correspondent of the Cork Examiner had stated pretty emphatically that not only was the Monsignor in Ireland on a political mission, but that he was ready to act so soon as the people should request him to do so.

By giving publicity to his mission, Mgr. Luzio has set at rest a great many speculations. His credentials, signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State, were addressed to the , Cardinal Primate, and Cardinal Logue has now informed the press that the Vatican letter was addressed through him to the Irish 1 bishops.

The position of the Monsignor now seems perfectly clear. He has no mission to intervene, that much seems certain. On the other hand, he possesses authority to use his influence in the . direction of peace, provided that he is requested to do so; and the indications are that some fairly direct requests have been made to Mgr. Luzio from more, quarters than one. However, it needs to be realised that Mgr. Luzio's mission is one of co-operation, and not one of intervention. Hence the next step is up .to the Government.