IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 April 1920, Page 2

IN IRELAND.

(By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.; DISCUSSIONS IN COMMONS. LONDON, April 13. In the Commons Mr T. P. O’Connor emphasised the gravity of the condition of the hunger strikers in Mount Joy, who should be treated as political prisoners. If the strikers died, the effect upon the already inflamed people wouid be deplorable.

Mr Clynes in supporting O’Connor, warned the Government of the danger of Labour action in Ireland spreading to this country.

The Irish Attorney General urged that the arrests were in accordance with the law. The men were simply attempting suicide. Ameliorated treatment for convicted prisoners had been demanded, which Lord French had not the power to give. Untried prisoners were treated under special rules. They would certainly be tried if possible, hut the necessary witnesses were not procurable owing to the terrorism exercised in Ireland. He defended the use of the military, as ten thousand constabulary were no longer able to maintain order. By the use of the military largo stores of explosives, which otherwise could not have been tackled had been captured, and thus a rising in diffrent parts of the country had been prevented. Hon Bouar Law emphasised that there was the possibility of a change in the Government’s decision. Government must resist terrorism and arrest suspects. Government must also resist their subsequent release. The cause of their suicide threatened to make the maintenance of law and order impossible. '

„ UPSET IRELAND. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 13. All dockers at Belfast are out. Symptoms resembling the Dublin conditions are reported from Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Tipperary and many other centres. STRIKE ORDER IGNORED, . (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, April 13. The Trade Unions in Belfast and North Ireland generally ignored the strike order. MOUNTJOY PRISON. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ,LONDON April 14. Apart from the north, the one day strike in Ireland appears to be general. Trains, trams and mails stopped and hotels, shops, schools and mar, closed. Purnchestown ' races are postponed. The stoppage is complete in Dublin, crowds wandering aimlessly in the streets. Special military precautions were taken near Mountjoy prison including tanks and machine guns. Crowds assembled in the vicinity of the gaol, Shut were kept at a distance by a. line of fixed bayonets and by policemen, armed with automatic pistols. Tlie only incident of the morning was due to the arrest of a youth who was distributing leaflets appealing to the troops. The crowd became excited, but the soldiers warningly levelled their bayonets. The notorious Captain White, son of Field Marshal White who was conspicuous in the labour riots of 1914, attempted to address the troops and was arrested. Darrell Figgis, the author,’ addressed the crowd appealing to them to disperse. During the morning searchlights at Dublin castle practised lighting Up Mountjoy, apparently in readiness for to-day. A Sinn Fein and Labour deputation compelled three banks in Oarrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary to elose. !

, THE IRISH STRIKE. (Received this dav, at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 13. The Irish strike has rendered' idle 250 thousand. The chairman and secretary of the Irish Trade Union Congress in a manifesto announces the continuance of the strike. Strikers are appealing to citizens to preserve order. The proclamation states -today’s demonstration has impressed the world. Let nothing happen pn our part to give the military an occasion for an outbreak of violence. Twenty thousand demonstrated outside Mountjoy prison. The belief is expressed that prayers are keeping the prisoners aliye. Spveral are in a state of collapse. BISHOPS PROTEST. (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, April 14. Irish Bishops meeting at Dublin possn resolution drawing attention to the fact of the appalling tragedy seemingJlv imminent. If a disaster ensures from this insenstae course, responsibility must rest with the Government which had substituted cruelty, vengeance and gross injustice for equity, moderation and fairplay.

GOVERNMENT’S FIRM STAND. (Received this day at 9.30 a.m.) LONDON, April 13. Hon. Bomir Law, in the Commons, said the prisoners in Mountjoy prison are being treated as untried prisoners. It was a matter for the Irish administration, hut Government had the fillies) confidence in its officials. Murder was so rife in Ireland and evidence so difficult to obtain that it became necessary to arrest on suspeeion. Government had no intention to alter its course. The House would deplore suicide by a hunger strike, hut the danger of suicide would only b c increased if the prisoners were led to hope that Government would alter its aetion.

THE HUNGER STRIKERS. ’Received This Dnv n*. 8.45 a.m A LONDON, April 13. The Irish strike lias been prolonged indefinitely. The acting Lord Mayor of Dublin was refused admission to Mount Joy prison, hut secured an official bulletin stating “all the prisoners are in a very weak state, anything may happen in the next twenty-four hours.” The acting Lord Mayor telegraphed to Hon Maopherson, pointing out that Dublin was feverishly excited, and appealing to him to intervene immediately in the interests of peace and humanity. He also wired a similar appeal to the American Ambassador in London.