GOVERNMENT’S REPLY

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 3, 28 September 1921, Page 5

GOVERNMENT’S REPLY

TO BE SENT TO DE VALERA TO-DAY TERMS SUBMITTED TO ASQUITH HEARTIEST APPROVAL EXPRESSED The British Government’s reply to Mr. de Valera is to be sent to-day. It has been revealed that before the offer was submitted to Mr. de Valera the Prime Minister referred the terms to Mr. Asquith, who expressed hearty approval of them.. By Telegraph— Press Asaoclatlon-Copyrlsht. London, September 26. The Government 'will send its reply to Mr. de Valera on Wednesday. It is understood that the Government does not intend holding a prolonged autumn session. It is not expected that tho Irish negotiations,''if they proceed most favourably, alo likely to reach a stage rendering a debate necessary or possible by October. 18. A Coalition member, writing to the Aberdeen “Journal,” reveals for tho first time that before submitting the offer to 'Mr. do Valera Mi'. Lloyd George privately submitted the full terms to Mr. Asquith The latter was so impresed v\th the ■ generosity of the terms that he immediately assured Mr. Lloyd George- of his heartiest Approval.—Aus.N.Z. Gable Assn. LORD NORTHCLIFFE’S BELIEF GENERAL ELECTION THE UPSHOT OF NEGOTIATIONS. > Melbourne, September 27. Lord Northcliffe, in discussing ths Irish situation, expressed the belief that a general election will be the upshot of the negotiations, when the people will register an overwhelming vote against tho Irish extremists.—Press Assn. WEEK-END IN BELFAST ONE OF THE WORST IN HISTORY BITTER FIGHTING BETWEEN . RIVAL MOBS. London, September 26. The week-end in . Belfo.it was one of the worst in history. Rival mobs, particularly in tho east end of the city, continued bitter'fighting throughout Sunday, frenzied women Replenishing the fighters’ ammunition. Attempts to stop tho fighting were futile,, and the police and soldiers fired into the mobs again mid again. They, used a Lewis gun, but tho only effect svas to silence the gunfire for a few minutes, wlivn it was resumed with renewed vigour. The gummen snipbd the ambulances when . removing tlibse injured Bomb explosions caused fresh retaliations by the opposing forces. eight additional armoured car.C appeared and patrolled the streets, plumping , lead into’ houses infested with snipers.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RIOT ACT JLEAD ADDITIONAL TROOPS ARRIVE. London, September 2G. Additional troops and armoured cars have arrived in Belfast, where tho Riot •Act was rend in the disturbed area today. , • Sir Jame 4 Craig, speaking in the Ulster Parliament, said that as the result of a conference between the police, military, and himself, it had been decided to mobilise special constabulary. The authorities were fully alive to tho situation All the troops required would be available.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. SINN FEIN GUNMEN FIRE INTO UNIONISTS BOMBS THROWN AMONG WOMEN . AND CHILDREN London, September 26. At Belfast tho military now control the east end of the city. Two battalions ore coming to-reinforce the garrison.* Feeling runs high, and no one knows where tho next outbreak will be, but a strong display by the military is. keeping tho storm centres,quiet. The troops are erecting sandbag defences as a protection against snipers. The "Daily/Telegraph's" correspondent at Belfast says that'Sinn Fein gunmen on Sunday night, armed with rifles r.nd carrying ammunition bandoliers, fired wcllev after volley into Unionists at Newtonhards Road. .The latter put. up a stubborn but 'ineffectual defence with stones. In some cases there wore hand-, to-hand struggles between Unionists rnd Sinn Feiners who were able to get to grips. ' The disorders lasted for two hours, during which frenzied womenfolk supplied the Sinn Fein gunmen, with more ammunition. When the -Sinn Feiners threw two bombs, which burst harmlessly, tho Unionists retaliated with another which failed to explode. Finally n curiousl noise was heard, and was found io be due to stones rolling down the roof of a house in Newtownhards Road into the street. Those stones were thrown bv Sinn Feiners in order to attract a crowd. Tho ruse succeeded, for a large party of Unionists collected, and a xeu moments la’ter a big bomb was thrown. Some of the crowd saw it rolling down 'the roof and tried to give a warning, but the missile fete and there was a terrific explosion, splinters flying over a wide area, amidst indescribable confusion. Some of the wounded ran,’ but others Inv in ths streets, their shrieks mingling with the cries of the terrified woxnen and children who-had been attracted to tho scene by curiosity. The Sinn Feiners were, overjoyed by the success of their ruse, and cheered even when the wounded were being placed m the ambulance At least sixty were wounded and taken to the hosmtal. Tne bomb outrage resulted in Unionist, reprisals to-day. A band of shipyard workers whoso comrades had -suffered by Uie bnmh, wt-nt to Queens Island,Recreation Ground, which is in process of formation, . attacked the Nationalists working there, shooting one badly and Beating- two others. Sir James Craig. in t ,IP borthern Pnr ; Fament. stated that the Government’ had information that during Hm last two months a large quantity of arms and ammunition, had teen brought to Trtland by Sinn Fein gunmen, and Hint tho Sinn Feiners were constantly drill-ing.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable .Assn. UNHAPPY TIME FOR CRIMINALS HUNTED I BY REGULAR AND SINN FEIN POLICE. Louden, September 26. Criminals are having an nnlianni mo in Ireland between the regular and Sinn Vein police forces. Barter of t-m latter bunt down hlghwav robbers. Imrglirs, and other malefactors. Prisoners convicted by the Sinn Fein tribunals are generally ordered to leave the country. —Reuter.