TERRORISM IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1920, Page 2

TERRORISM IN IRELAND.

STATEMENT BY MR LLOYD

GEORGE. LONDON, April 2. Mr Lloyd George, in a letter to the Lord Mayor of Dublin, points out that Ireland is menaced by a formidable organisaton seeking to terrorise the public and the officials'. The campaign had attained such proportions that it was impossible in the ordinary way to obtain evidence leading to arrests' and convictions. Despite these difficulties, the Government’s imperative duty was to leave no stone unturned to lay hands on the terrorists, even if, at times, it was compelled to dislocate ,in some degree the’ normal life of the community. He believed the present campaign was largely prompted by a desire to make impossible a settlement of the Irish question. He urged that the present Bill was more generous tlnin any previous measure. It provided the means whereby Ireland could attain unity by the free act of her own citizens without further reference to the Imperial Parliament. Parliament did not believe that it was possible for Ireland to obtain ujtity and peace except by these methods of reason and conciliation.

The policy of the Sinn Fein was 0 s ’ actly opposite. It depended upon violence, a. policy which would never lead to union, and certainly could never achieve its avowed object of an Irish republic, lt could only condemn Ireland to a long continuance of the terrorism and distress dominating it joday for the Government could not be deflected from what it believed the only course consistent- with reason and common sense.® If any means could be suggested whereby moderate men could be helped to withstand and oppose th& ■>ampaign of intimidation, and so nearer a settlement of the question, Tnr would gladly co-operate in bringing it into effect.