IRISH PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LVI, Issue 16855, 8 June 1920, Page 7

IRISH PROBLEM.

THE HOME RULE BILL. (By Cahle—Pre?s Association—Copyrizht.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, June 5. In the House of Commons the Government accepted an amendment to the Home Rule Bill providing that the transfer of the Royal Irish Constabulary should not be made until tbros vears after the Bill came into operation. Jlr Walter Long promised favourable consideration of a suggestion made by Sir Edward Carson that when tho two Parliaments, by an identical Act, caded for tho transfer of the Royal Irish Constabulary it should be wound up, its members suitably compensated, and schemes for .a- police force flamed by both the Parliaments. . Mr Long also undertook to consider favourably a suggestion that, during the transition period, the Constabulary would bo vested in a Minister, and not in a committee of five, as proposed m the Bill. , „ Mr Long stated that if the forecasts made by many speakers were true, and if tho only use to be made by tho Southern Parliament of its powers was to try to establish a republic, or a Government unworthy of the name of Government. the Bill would be suspended, and would not come into operation, and the Imperial Parliament would be compelled to take such action as was necessary to restore order. WARNING TO TRADES UNIONISM. PRIME MINISTER'S FIRM STAND. (Keuter's Telegrams.') LONDON, Juno 5. Mr J. H. Thomas, secretary of the Railwaymen's Union, states that his executive interviewed Mr Lloyd George and asked for special British and special Irish trades union congresses to try to bridge the gulf between the Irish people and the Government. Mr Lloyd George, replying, regretted the attitudo of the Irish railwaymen, and stated that the Government could not tolerate any discrimination in regard to the various classes of goods. Tho Government was bound to take every step to maintain order. Tho Prime Minister pointed out that Trades Unionism now sought to influence political decisions, not by tho ordinary machinery of State, _ but by ] threats of disorganising the industries : of the country. That was a serious issue, which he took np at once. Ho | would regard it as a complete abdication bv the. Government if it were, in tlie least, to countenance such a demand. The issue raised was similar to the recent issue in France, which ended so disastrously for trades unionism in Franco. He declined to believe that the National Union of Railwaymen would embark on a policv which tho Trades Union Congress had absolutely refused to sanction in connexion with another important matter of public policy. Mr Thomas said he _ recognised that to support the strikers in Ireland meant a declaration of war on the Government. . Mr Lloyd George, continuing, said, regarding the uosition in Ireland, that within a very short time there had been 48 murders of police, and 120 attempted murders. Men were shot down when carrying out the elementary duty of the prevention of murder, yet when a box of revolvers was sent to these _ men to enable them to defend their lives, the trades unions threatened to stop all traffic in Ireland, notwithstanding the fact that murderers, with, revolvers in thoir pockets, were carried backwards and forwards on the railways. "We cannot," he added, "have that, whatever its prevention costs." Railwaymen had refused to work trains carrving troops. He declared, most emphatically, ~ that the Government would not possibly pgree to the action of any section of workers discriminating against Government traffic, or accept any decree issued by any body, no matter "how powerful, denying to the Government the essential facilities for the carrying out of its functions. LONDON, Juno 6. Mr Thomas, addressing a meeting of railwaymen at Battersea, said that no Government, not even a Labour Government, would tolerate the murder of innocent policemen and soldiers. He was sympathetic with Ireland, but could not condone the murders. A special Labour conference had been summoned, at which Irish railwaymen would be invited to state their case. SINN FEIN OUTRAGES. (United Scrvice.) LONDON, June o. The "Daily Mail" states that the Irish authorities are asking anyone in possession of information which would be useful in stamping out crime in Ireland to write "poste restanto collect." Absolute secrccy is assured, and a reward will be given if tho information given proves efficacious. LONDON, June 6. Sixty Sinn Feiners surrounded a patrol, consisting of eleven soldiers and one policeman, cycling from Middleton to Oarrigtohill, and confiscated their arms and cycles. A Sinn Fein court-martial sentenced a resident of Tuam, accused of stealing money from a house he had assisted in raiding. The prisoner subsequently informed tho police of the whereabouts of a Sinn Fein gaol in a deserted bog. The police and military raided the gaol, and arrested threo men. (Received Juno 7t-h 1 8.50 p.m.) LONDON, June 7. Tlie Sinn Feiners at Carrigtohill, in County Cork, overcame the patrol of cyclists by guile. They pretended to bo engaged in a game of bowls, and when tho patrol cycled past, tho Sinn Feiners rushed out, overthrew the cyclists, and covered the fallen men with revolvers. THE POPE'S DENUNCIATION. (Australian iukl N.Z. C&blo Association.) LONDON, June 6. The "Sunday Times" states that tho Pope informed tho Irish bishops who are visiting Rome that the Sinn Fein methods are deplorable, aud must bo denounced.