IRISH SITUATION

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 258, 26 July 1920, Page 5

IRISH SITUATION

DISCUSSED IN HOUSE OF COMMONS

ULSTER MOVEMENT AND

THE WAR

PROPOSED LEGISLATION OUTLINED By Telegraph—Preia Asßodation-Copyrljht (Rec. July 25, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 2-1. Tho situation in Ireland was discussed in the House of Commons on the vote for the Chief Secretary's salary. Mr. T. P. O'Connor said that Ireland was steadily descending into an abyss of anarchy and chaos. Nobody had doue more to create an extremist party than Sir Edward Carson, He suggested that it was the Ulster movement tnat swayed the vacillating German mind in favour of war. Sir' Edward Carson retorted that he believed that this was an unmitigated lie, and proceeded to defend Ulster's determination to resist being ground down under the heels of murderers and assassins. He declared that the British Government had been entirely beaten in three-quarters of Ireland, and demanded vigorous measures against tho treasonable institutions which Sinn Fein was establishing. ,„, . , o •Sir Hamar Greenwood (Chief Secretary), in replying, said that fifty-seven arrests had been made in Belfast, and more would be necessary. He would ask the House to pass certain legislation as soon as possible. The Government had introduced u Criminal injuries Bill, which would enablo them to intercept every grant from the Exchequer to any person in authority in Ireland who acted illegally. The action of every council or other public authority was being examined. Drastic action would bo taken to uphold the authority of the Crown. Another. Bill would establish a tribunal superseding the Courts, which had failed to perform their function at the recent assizes, owing to'the,absence of jurors, who were intimidated by the reign of revolver. The Government would also submit a Bill enabling the Lord Lieutenant to establish a tribunal to deal quickly with every criminal offence committed in Ireland. He referred to the widespread terrorism which prevented people giving evidence in cases, and tho difficulties in the way of laying charges, wut under the legislation which was proposed it would be possible to mete out punishment in proven cases adequate to the crime. In tho meantime, any decision of a Sinn. Fein court or any transfer of title thereunder, would be illegal, and would be upset as soon as possible. He denied that there was any coercion in Ireland. There was no soldier there except to preserve life and order. The people in Ireland were terrorised by a few. It was the Government's duty to break that terror, and to giro the Irish people a onance to voice their real views. Sir.Hamar Greenwood continued": "The situation is bad, and may grow worse, because the forces of the Crown are asserting the Government's authority. I regret to say to the House that the United Kingdom must brace itself to face a bitter period in Irish history. %ore i* a determined and organised attempt to establish an Irish republicby means of murder and intimidation. That attempt will not be abandoned without a struggle." He asserted that it could bo defeated by the unijted determination of all parties and creeds to condemn and resolutely oppose such savage methods. He extended an invitation for representation from every quarter as regards the best way of settling the question and saving Ireland from ruin, and concluded a telling speech with an appeal to tie House for united support. The Nationalist motion to reduce the Chief Secretary's salary was rcjectedtby 181 votes to 42-Reuter...

STATEMENT BY MR. LLOYD GEORGE

INDEPENDENT AUTHORITY IN •IRELAND IMPOSSIBLE.

(Rec. July 26. 0.50 a.in.) London, July 24. Replying to the Trade Union Congreorf deputation regarding Ireland, Mr. Lloyd George said that unless Britain wished to imperil her existence it was impossible to establish an independent authority in Ireland. He was prepared to discuss plans for settlement with any responsible leaders of Irish opinion subject to two conditions. He could not ngreo to secession in the American sense, and must have self-determination in the north-east. Mr. Lloyd George sa:d that the other day lie saw a German plan for submarine sinkings, and it was surprising how many were just outsido Ireland, despite the fact that we controlled tho harbours. If the control had been in the hands of a hostile authority, the position would have been impossible. "Therefore,, unless we wish to make ourselves defenceless we cannot move," the P/eniier said. "I am very sure things are going to happen in Ireland, 'are. going to become very much worse." Referring to the'question of a truce, raised by Mr. Thomas, Mr. Bonar Law said: "From the very beginning wo only moved troops there because of murders. Stop the murders nnd we will remove the troops."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i DOWNING STREET~CONFERENCE IMPORTANT ISSUES DECIDED. (Rec. July 26, 0,50 a.m.) London, July 24. Mr. Lloyd George presided at an important conference held at Downing Street yesterday regarding tho Irish question. The conference lasted for eight hours, when it adjourned till to-, day. Sir Hamar Greenwood says that issues wero decided involving the welfare of millions and the prestige of the nation.-Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

THE BELFAST RIOTS

MOST SERIOUS SINCE 1907

London, July 23. Rioting continues in Belfast, nnd is tho most serious since 1907. At least eight people havo been killed, and seventy are in hospital, and the death rpjl and casualty list arc still'incomplete Disorders are continually breaking out in' new quarters. Several priests pluckily invaded the danger zones, and implored the rioters to go home, but without cJiect. When the police were badly stoned tlity made baton clmrges, but finally soldiers in steel helmets and an armoured car with a Lewis gun were called out, and, after repeated watuings, fired over tho heads of the crowd. The mob fled, but returned to the attack when it was found no one was hurt. The warnings wore renewed, and the soldiers then fired into the eiwd. Protestant and Catlitolie shops suffered equally in the looting, which was a serious part of the rioting. Young hooligans swaggered about with whisky bottles in their pockets, and girls Haunted finery taken from tho looted shops; and tho streets wero littered with brokon goods—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

Later. Order has been restored -in Belfast, A force of cavalry lins arrived. Between two and three hundred were wounded by the military firing and the Sinn Fein sniping. An ex-soldier named Dunning, who was going to bring his child home, had his head partially blown away by a Sinn Fein sniper, and a man who helped to cany tho body into a houso was afterwards shot dead. When tho soldiers ivoro firing upon the Sinn Fein snipers some shots entered tho top story of tho Clonard Monastery, and killed a Redemptorist priest. The fire brigade had to deal, with fourteen lives during the sight—Aiis'.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ' OCCASIONAL OUTBREAKS CONTINUE A HEAVY CASUALTY LIST. (Rec. July 2.1, 5.5 p.m.) London, July 24. Though the worst disorders have* ended in Belfast, occasional outbreaks continue. It is estimated that fourteen havo been killed and three hundred wounded, but tho Sinn Feinors aro believed lo have taken a number of their dead, so they are not included in tho casualty list. Some of tho Sinn Feiners' iMiipurs, the accuracy of whoso aim showed they wcro fired upon the troops from

housetops, until volleys from machineguns dislodged them. Acting under Sir Edward Carson's orders, patrols belonging to Unionist clubs and Orange lodges are assisting the authorities to preserve order. A number of girls in Belfast bold indignation meetings against Ibo Sinn Fein outrages. The girls sang loyalist songs mid passed a resolution that they would not work with Sinn Poitiers. Belfast shipyard workers threw a Sinn Peiner into tho river. He was rescued and sont to hospital. , Eight Unionist clubs havo decided that their-, members should assist in p-a trolling the streets to preserve order. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Aa<n.

CROWD ATTACKS CONVENT

STREAM OP REFUGEES FROM BELFAST.

(Bee. July 2G, 0.50 a.m.)

London, July 21.

Belfast was quieter to-day after a companatlvoly quiet night. Although noting wa9 continued in some quarters there were fewer casualties. Tho mo/c 6erious incident was an attack on a convent in the neighbourhood of which thero had been, j-ioting and looting, necessitating the "nuns leaving yesterday. The crowd at 10 o'clock at night became definitely hostile and made an organised effort to destroy tho convent by fire. They drenched a hedge with paraffin and petrol, smashed a gate, rushed through it and ultimately burst open a door. They entered the convent, saturated, the floors and ignited the lower 'rooms. Tho police made a baton charge and, with the military, nleared the streets. An armoured cur fired on the rioters. The fire brigade succeeded in confining the fire to the lover rooms. Large numbers of refugees from Belfast are arriving in County Tyrone. Rioting occurred yesterday in Dromore, where tho Catholic Club and Parochial Hall were wrecked last nisht. The police fired on one rioter, and killed him. Further drafts from Aldershot are .proceeding to Ireland and others, including tho First Cavalry Brigade, are held in readiness to go.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn,

OTHER OUTRAGES

(Rec. July 25, 5.5 p.m.)

London, July 23.

A dozon armed and disguised rten dragged a Roscommon farmer from liia bed, forced him to his knoea in tlio roadway, and compelled him- at the revolver's point to promise to induce his son to retire from the police within a fort-night—Aus.-N.Z. Cable As6n. London, July 24.

Returning from the funeral of Constable Carey, who was murdered in Tuam, masked men took the henrse from the undertakers and burned it. During a ccronor's inquiry into the death of two youths at Mielielstown, County Cork, the evidence showed that youths were- joking with a party of girls when a military lorry with fifteen soldiers drove up and fired, killing two. The sergeant commanding the party said that someone in the crowd fired at the lorry, whereupon the soldiers fired 119 rounds.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.