The Dominion MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1919. TROUBLE AHEAD

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 147, 17 March 1919, Page 4

The Dominion MONDAY, MARCH 17, 1919. TROUBLE AHEAD

Ik the light of recent events the threat of the Sinn Fein leader, ..De Valeka, of a "continuoui revolution until Ireland's rights are recognised," cannot be treated asjm idle one. The condition of affairs in Ireland, as disclosed by the English and Irish Press, is,.such as to make further strife appear unavoidable. To appreciate the full clangers of the situation it is necessary to realise that however farcical the socalled Republican Government constituted by the Sinn Fein leaders may appear to those at a distance, in Ireland itself the fact that this revolutionary movement has been permitted to take this definite shape is regarded as an evidence that the British Government is helpless or afraid to interfere in any drastic fashion. The Literary of February has compiled from the English, the Sinn Fein, and the Irish Nationalist Press opinions on the outlook in Ireland which leave no room for doubt that the probabilities of serious trouble ahead are infinitely greater than the prospects of a settlement which would give satisfaction to the extremist faction which controls the Sinn Fein movement. It is true that _an clement in the ranks of the Nationalist Homo Rulers, who were so heavily beaten at the recent general elections, profess to anticipate the collapse of the Sinn Fein movement ere long, but probably in this case the wish is' father to the thought. The Sinn Fein journals, like the leaders of ths movement, leave no room for doubt as to the lengths to which they intend to go. Nationalitji, one of these organs, said recently: The Irish people have repudiated the British Government— they must wipe out all it stands for in Ireland." It suggestively adds that "storms may arise," but promises that with the help of the people Ireland will weather the storm. New Ireland, another Sinn Fein' publication, repudiates, the idea that the- "Republicans" desire open warfare and recourse to armed rebellion, and in support of this view points out that if this had been the national aim they would not have wasted time, energy, and monoy_on a Parliamentary election. We further add," if proceeds, that it Irishmen wish to prevent recourse to armed rebellion they should throw themselves whole-heartedly into the present Sinn Fein movement. The first principle 61 the movement is the complete rejection to the utmost limits of possibility of English interference, good or bad, in Ireland. This is the spirit behind Sinn Fein. It is on the surface one which rejects absolutely and finally all thought of compromise. A complete break from Britain, or, as De Vαlkra threatens, "continuous, rcvoluRule papers like The Freeman's Journal and the Belfast Irish News predict failure for Sinn Fein methods, but they appear to be ini-. pressed with the possibilities of serious disorders. The Irish News, tor instance, asks what the V!! bnin Feiners in Dublin (members- of the self-constituted Irish Parliament) can do if the Peace Conference closes without establishing the Irish Republic. Their "ukases" will not be worth so many scraps of paper unless they have force behind them, and the employment of force will mean another insurrection. 'If we arc heading for another insurrection," the News adds, "let tnc tact be clearly understood. It is a serious consideration." Irish Unionist journals also plainly recognise the menace of rebellion which is hangin" over the country. They anticipate that the Sinn Feiners will use every means to convince the world that British government is impossible in Ireland. Tho only remedy suggested from this quarter is farm and consistent action on the part of the Government—slack handling of the situation is fraught with peril for the whole of Ireland. Generally speaking, the English Press iavoiirs a liberal measure of Home Rule for Ireland, excluding Ulster, and the Government is almost universally blamed for weakness in permitting Ireland to "fall into anarchy." ■ The Morning Post attributes the strength of the Sinn Fein movement to the weakness of the Government. If the Government had shown itself stronger tnan the. rebels, it argues, the people would have been with the Government against the rebels. But as the rebels have shown themselves stronger than the Government the people of Ireland have taken sides with the stronger, and "they were forced to do it for their own protection when justice was abandoned and the police betrayed." Perhaps, however, the British attitude is best expressed in an article in the Daily Telegraph, which asserts that the Sinn Fein demand will never be conceded because it would bo a mortal blow at Britain's strategic security. Ireland to-day, it points out, "enjoys every privilege which is enjoyed by the rest of tho United Kingdom," and it proceeds: "Sh'o has eninved special nrivik'RPS during the war which are not to her honour but to her shame. It is known to all the world that she is now prosperous as never before in her history, and that she can secure n Rcnerous measure of self-sjovernment as =oon ns the thr;e southern nroviuces relinquish (ho vain hope of triumphing over the Protestants and Unionists of Ulster. If tho. Sum IViners insist on cr.vin? for the impossible why, then, cry they -must; but if thev thrust out violent hands to Ri'asp what 'is forbidden by the unyielding conditions of British security, they will have themselves and their false leaders to blamo for what may follow. For the moment the turn of events hangs on the attitude of the Peace Conference towards the representations of the Sinn Fein leaders. Nothing that has so far transpired suggests that the Conference will attempt to interfere on behalf of the rebels. Such being the case, the onus will be thrown on the British Government of taking early measures to place the government of Ireland on a sound and orderly footing. At the, moment the Government has its bands very full of troubles of one kind and'another. The diflicultv.'K which confront it arc so complex and far-reaching, and failure to satisfactorily cope with them is fraught with consequences of such vital importance to fhe future welfare of tho nation, that. Mil. Uovn George and his , colleagues might well he pardoned a rcljiclance .to add anv final and decisive step in warr!

to'lreland to their list "f nnxiotios. But decision cannot lie Ion?; rloi-rvotl. And it is feared tint anv dxiVion. howewr RoiNM-nnsly coiifciverl. which dnps liol, coiKv'le II) 1 full 'l»in.iiuls of the Sinn Fein leader:;, will, whatever its ultimata sucross, W f o immediate turmoil and dis-.wi*s