ARCHBISHOP MANNIX

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 311, 25 September 1920, Page 7

ARCHBISHOP MANNIX

RECEPTION IN LONDON

MESSAGE TO ENGLAND

B7 Teleeraph-Prena Association— Copyright

» ■ London, September 23. ' The Bishop of Portsmouth presided at a reception to Archbishop Mannix at the Cannon Street Hotel, attended by. a large .Assemblage of clergy. Dr. Mannix. .said that -notwithstanding the indignity, placcd upon him by the British.Cabinet,; lie remained unrepentant.:. Ho had been represented as a firebrand desirous or sowing seed 9 of dissension between England and Ireland; but he rarely made a public speech, ■ oven in America, in which lie had not expressed the desire for peace in Ireland. He did not complain of any loss cf dignity, because there had not been any, unless on the part of the British Cabinet. ' He ■ referred to the case of a man who .was allowed to go to Ireland to induce Sinn Feiners to commit outrageous crimes; but if lie had attempted to go to Ireland the Navy .would be mobilised. Dr. Mannix declared that the .present Government was a disgrace to the Empire. During the war they heard a lot about tho freedom of the seas; but the Government had brought it home to him. .He did not. want- to boast, but he was- actually a. chaplain-general.'in His Majesty's Forces. He had' opposed . conscription in Australia; so. did Australia. ■ His otlier offence was being, an Irishman.. He could not help that.. He had been approached in . his retirement here to make a pronouncement on the Irish question, but he had no message. If he went to Ireland he would endeavour to promote peace. _As long as he was detained in England he was out of touch, with Irish affairs, and lie ' would not say anything. He de<;lar«i that tho British, flag covered atrocities and outrages in Ireland at which the, world stands aghast. There was nothing more callous in history than Mr. Lloyd.George's offer to release M'Swiney if the murders ceased. Dr. Mannix added: My message to 'England is withdraw the troops antt police; and let Ireland decide on her form of government." The Irish question had divided the people of . Australia almost as much as' in .England and Ireland. Under Dominion Home Rule, Ireland would become England's friend.. " , • The meeting sent a message to tlie. Pope expressing sympathy with Dr.. Mannix.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.