IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 January 1919, Page 1

IRELAND.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION] SINN FEIN PRISONERS. LONDON, Jan. 29. It is reported that the Government are releasing the Irish Sinn Fein jirisoners interned in England for some months past. ULSTER AND HOME RUI LONDON, Jan. 28. Lord) Middleton, a Unionist Peer has formed a League, the object- of which is to prevent the partition of Ireland by the separation of Ulster , from the rest of the country. The Lea- j gue has been formed by twelve Irish i Peers. A number of the large land owners have also joined the movement. The League is the result of a split in the ranks of the United Kingdom Unionist Alliance. The new Anti-Partition League has made Lord Middleton Chairman. The League expresses a determination to maintain the union of Ireland with Britain. Sixty prominent Southern Irish Union ists have joined the League. The new League considers that Ulster now possesses an unduly large influence in Irish Unionist politics. The Unionist Alliance has now issued a statement denying that it favours the partition, but said that on the contrary, its members were unalterably opposed to Home Rule for the whole or for any part of Ireland^

WHAT SPLIT MEANS. LONDON, .Tan. 2S. Commenting on the Irish Anti-Parti-tion League’s initiation, the Unionist paper, “Morning Post” says: We expect this schism on the Unionists will have far reaching consequences. It adds: “The leaders aparentl.v anticipate that another attempt is about to he made to enforce Home Rule in Ireland. Their object, in that case, will he to prevent the partition of Ireland by leaving Ulster out of Home Rule. SERIOUS POSITION AT BELFAST. (Received this day at 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 27. The position in Belfast is more serious. The public services are increasingly affected, by the stoppage of power. There have been more disorders. Several buildings were attacked, and there was some looting, including a public house, ft has been noted that there is a remarkable similarity between the Glasgow and Belfast strikes. Both go to the Second Industrial Disputes Tribunal. The manifestos and leaflet incitements resemble Bolshevikism.