IRISH PROBLEM.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17113, 7 April 1921, Page 7

IRISH PROBLEM.

PROTEST AGAINST REPRISALS. MEMORIAL TO PRIME MINISTER. (By Cable—Press Association—Copyright) (Australian »r.d N.Z. Cab.« Association .* (Received April Cth, 5.55 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. Several Anglican bishops and heads of Nonconformist Churches in England and Scotland, have signed an appeal to t!io Premier and Sir Homnr Greenwood. Chief Secretary for Ireland, protesting against indiscriminate reprisals in Ireland. . , They state they cannot regard t.Jie outrage?; which haVe occasioned the reprisals policy as ordinary, wanton criminality, but'as the outcome of a sense of political grievance. They urge the Government' to attempt to secure nl truce and adopt a policy of conciliation.

KEY TO SETTLEMENT. STATEMENT BY ARCHBISHOP MANNIX. (Received April 6th, 7.40 p.m.) NEW YORK, April o. Tho Rome correspondent of tho '.'OhiNews" interviewed , ATchbishop M-.mnix. who said that so long as the Irish question remained unsettled, there would never be real friendship between Great Britain and the United States. "Enaland may reach out ihopelully to seek peace, but each attempt will be frustrated by the long hand of Ireland opposing every hone, every desire, and every plan, relentlessly. "I see no hope for Ireland so long as England is governed by the men now m power. The Labour Party and a largo part of tho Liberals are "favourable to us, but they cannot get a hearing, and I expect matters will take their course until tihey get so bad they will solve themselves.'

"Tho Irish people will accept only one thing, namely, the acknowledgment of their right to decide their own destiny. Any arrangements to safeguard the Empire are possible once this is admitted. Tho creation of two Parliaments in Ireland will do nothing to ease the situation.

"the majority of the peojlo in the Dominions are favourable :o Ireland, but their Governments are conservative. I, as a free man, claim the right to land anywhere I please, but, I could not even visit certain 3itie& in England." , The correspondent asked whether the. Vatican was contemplating intervention in Uhe Irish situation.

Archbishop Mannix replied: "Not that I know of; but I may say this: that when the Pope' received me a few clays ago he offered to present a request to the British -Government, through t'ho ordinary diplomatic channels, that. I should be allowed to visit my family in Ireland. I refused his offer. Either I enter Ireland as of right, or I shall never enter it."

. DISCUSSION BY HIBERNIANS. . A discussion on tho Irish question took place at yesterday's session of the triennial conference of the New Zealand District of the Hibernian Society, following a motion moved by Bro. M. J. Sheahan (Auckland). The motion was as follows:

"(l)That, in common with the overwhelming mass of the Irish people of various-faiths, with representative English Liberals, Unionists, and Labourites, with prominent English journals, with the Baptist Union of Great Britain find Ireland, and with 17 Episcopal leaders of the Established Church in England, this New Zealand district; meeting of tho Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society records its solemn protest against the regime of militarist oppression and crime which has brought such bitter woe upon Ireland.

•'.(2) That this meeting, furthermore, strongly affirms the just and inalienable right of the Irish people to control their own affairs.

"(3) That copies of these resolutions be sent to the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and of Great Britain and to the Cardinal Archbishop of Armagh." The motion was seconded by Bro. Michael Walsh . (Wellington), and spoken to by several others. The chairman stated at this Btnge that the Mayor would have to leave the meeting. In talcing his leave, the Mayor said that the discussion had developed into something serious. He would have liked to stay, but had he taken part in tho debate his action in so. doing might be criticised'by people outside. The motion was carried unanimously, copies to be sent to Mr Winston Churchill (Secretary of State for tho Colonies) ; and President Harding. A motion of appreciation was passed to Dr. Kellv, editor of the "New Zealand Tablet," for his services in the cause of Ireland.

THE ASHTOED BITJKDER. .Australian and N.Z. Cable Asreciation.) LONDON, April, o. The Ashford victim has been identifipd as Vincent Fovargue, a prominent Sinn Foinor, who had been on the rim for some months. - It is evident that hit; death was the outcome of a Sinn Fein vendetta.

Dublin is .mystified over the shooting of Fovnrgue. The Dublin Castle authorities issued a communique on February Ist stating a prisoner named Fovnrgue, whita being convoyed in a military lorry for examination, escaped during an attack on the lorry. Sinn Feincrs disci-edit tho story, and state that 'Fovargug was unknown to them in connexion with the Republican or any other movement in Ireland.

. SINN PEIN IN ENGLAND. LONDON, April 5. An Irishman, who has Ikvu charged at Hertford Police Court with setting lire to a stack, said when arrested':— "You set light to my country. I'll do tlie same to yours!" His aged father lmd just been shot in Ireland. Sinn Feinors unsuccessfully attempted to blow up the Thirlmere pipe line supplying Manchester with water.-

AEREST OF ESMONDE. OTTAWA, April 5. Esmonde's arrest at Vancouver followed on a speech by the Mayor illr Gale) to an unemployed deputation. He strdngly condemned the recent demonstrations, including the singing of the "lied Flag," and then ordered the police, to arrest Esmonde on a charge of making a seditious utterance in his recent speech. Esmonde had remained in Vancouver, notwithstanding his promise to depart for England immediately he landed.

(Received April 6th, 5.5 p.m.) OTTAWA,. April 5. Esmonde spent thc s night in the police cell. Bail to-day was fixed at £ISOO. Esnionde was remanded for a week.