THE IRISH PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 128, 23 February 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH PROBLEM

DISCUSSED IN HOUSE 0F COMMONS

GOVERNMENT’S POLICY CONDEMNED CHIEF SECRETARY DEFENDS CROWN FORCES • By Telegraph—Press Association-Copyright. (Rec. February 22, 5.5 p.m.) London, February 21. Captain Wedgwood Benn, in moving an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, urging that the Government was failing to repress crime in Ireland, and was involving the forces of the Crown in competition in crime with the Sinn Feiners, said Sir Hamar Greenwood (Chief Secre- ' tary of Ireland) was creating new capital offences for which people were executed. Sinn Fein hostages had been used as fire-screens for the military. Sir Hamar Greenwood had systematicallyemployed the population for the purpose of restoring order; that policy was doing much to threaten the security and coherence of the Empire. Commander Kenworthy seconded the amendment.

Sir Hamar Greenwood, replying, denied that Britain was suffering loss of esteem abroad owing to tho stand it was making for civilisation in Ireland. Their own colonies recognised that the British Government was trying to put down a campaign of assassins. He added that despite the Sinn Fein orgy of blood, Ireland had enjoyed unexampled prosperity since 1914. Sir Hamar Greenwood read a Sinn Fein memorandum captured on Saturday last, outlining a scheme for the destruction of property in England. including ships, coal-mines, gasworks, aqueducts, farm cro-ps, telephones, a.nd telegraphs. He indignantly denied de Valera’s statement that the, Crown forces were guilty of outrages on women. Even tho Labour. Party’s Irish Commission admitted that not more than 1 per cent, of the Constabulary was bad. Considering tho danger in which these men wc-re placed, this was a superb compliment. Every man of the Crown Forces who had been accused was brought to trial, but it was found that most of the accusations were false. The reason there were more casualties in the Crown Forces was that the soldiers now were not sealed up in barracks, but were fighting for the authority of the Crown, and succeeding. The Irish Republican Army was confined to certain areas; tho Government had broken tho reign of terror in two-thirds of Ireland. Mr. Devlin called on the Government at least to fight- tho band of peasant boys who formed tho Sinn Fein army fairly and cleanly. If they could not overcome them let the British clear out of Ireland. Both the Sinn Feiners and the Government were engaged in a fruitless task. Let the Government invite tho Sinn Feiners to meet them, and fashion out some plan of agreement. If the moral conscience, of the country was not aroused by what was going on in Ireland, then public opinion had got into tho deadly grip of gross materialism.

Lord Robert Cecil, rising in the front Opposition benches, was greeted with Liberal and Labour cheers. He urged the Government to send to Ireland a distinguished Judge, an English general, and a member of the House of Commons to inquire into the acts of violence by the Black and Tans and other auxiliaries, also the burning of Cork. He urged the Government to abandon tjio whole policy of reprisals. Mr. A. Henderson said Labour was strongly in favour of peace negotiations between the Government and the Sinn Fein.-

Mr. Asquith said: "The Chief Secrctary accuses me of being an apologist, an abettor and accomplice of crime.” Sir Hamar Greenwood, interrupting: "I made no such acctisation. I said the speeches unwittingly encouraged Sinn Fein.” Mr. .Asquith: "That is a compliment to «ny’ character at the expense of my intelligence. I have never made aspeech without denouncing the methods of Sinn Fein. T have been called a proGerman and a Bolshevik, but I have a lingering hope that mty political reputation. will still survive the reprisals, which is the most discreditable chapter in the whole history of the British administration. The Government should grant a full itnd impartial inquiry and end this butchery.'’ Mr. Bonar Law said that after the 1916 rebellion' Air. Devlin said of Mr. Asquith: "No insurrection has been put, down with so much bloodshed.” (Laughter and cheers.) "While the terror prevailed it might'be possible to get evidence, against the police, but it would be impossible to get evidence in their favour. Only yesterday two witnesses were murdered. We shall not restore order ih Ireland in a. hurry, but wc will do it.” Captain Benn’s amendment was rejected by 287 votes to .88, The Address-in-Reply was agreed to w'thout division. -Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ass OPENING OF I'LSTFR PARLIAMENT DOMINION PREMIERS MAY ATTEND (Rec. February 22, 11.10 p.m.) London. February 22. Sir Hamar Greenwood, in the House of Commons, said he hoped the Dominion Premiers would attend the opening of the Ulster Parliament in June. He trusted the same thing would happen as regards the Southern Parliament — Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REPUBLICAN ARMY CIIIEF-OF-STAFF NARROW ESCAPE FROM CAPTURE. (Rec. February 22, 11.10 p.m.) London, February 22. The Chief-of-Staff of the Republican Army had a narrow escape from capture in the raid on'the Dublin headquarters/, The military found a cup of tfea on his desk, also an unfinished letter to his wife Bloodhounds failed to find the scent, lie had a previous narrow escape in his nightclothes.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. MILITARY ATTACKED London, February 21. Armed men attacked- military who were conveying soldiers’ rations to Kilkenny. The military fired, and killed two of the attackers. Twelve lorry-loads of sobders and five, armoured cars surrounded the Mission House of the Jesuits in Millstown lark, Dublin, while the fathers were m retreat. An exhaustive search of the, piemises has begun. _ 'The civilian death-roll in Midleton, where a party of Hampshires surprised a gathering, a sharp fight resulting, is fifteen. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARCHBISHOP MANNIX (Rec. February 22. 5.5 p.m.) London, February 21. . Archbishop Mannix addressed' two thousand sympathisers with Sinn Fein at Edinburgh. As the Usher Hall was refused, tho meeting took place in the playground of St. Patricks Chinch. Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. (Rec. February 22, 8.20 p.m.) London, February 21.

Archbishop Mannix, addressing 2000 Sinn Reiners at Edinburgh, declared that the Irish were being bludgeoned and murdered daily. It was a disgrace to civilisation, and an eternal disgrace to Britain. If there had been any chance of union between England and Ireland the present Government had destroyed it for ever.—United Service,