IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 September 1920, Page 2

IN IRELAND.

Reuter’s Telegram#

A PROTEST. LONDON, Sept. 13. The “Times” publishes a letter signed by thirteen distinguished intellect-, vials and publicists including Philip Gibbs, H. G. Wells, 'Masefield and Gilbert Murray, protesting against militarism in Ireland. The letter says a sort of lynch law in force has been applied, not only to culprits, but to villages and towns. Soldiers and police are making indescriminate reprisals for murders of police. The Government failed to restrain and punish them, and had now issued an order forbidding coroners inquests in nine counties, thus removing the last vestige of protection, for the civilian population,

GOVERNMENT ’INTENTIONSLONDON, September 14. An official announcement has been made that the Government intends to enrol and to arm a well-disposed citizens force in IrelandIt also announces it will appoint a special new Undersecretary, with his headquarters in Belfastj to administer the six Ulster counties of Ireland. The announcement has intensified the

general anxiety. It is regarded in some quarters, "S a partisan act by the Government. The Government circles claiin that their action is connected with the hunger strikers. They say it is in readiness for the deaths of the Sinn Fein r ers in gaol. They assert that defensive preparations nfust be made ’n view of the effect that the hunger strikers’ deaths will have on tho Irish nation. They say a large portion of the Irish people are already armed. Tlie Government says it intends to use these armed volunteers merely to police the quieter districts, so ’as to release the police and the troops for more troubled areas. The volunteers will be restricted to the areas in which they reside. y

OTHER VIEWS. LONDON, September 14. The Government’s evident proposal is now the formation of armed forces ; of citizens in Ireland. This is being much debated. The Government!s icjoa, it is claimed, js to put the restoration and preservation of law and qrcjgr ip . Irish hands as largely as possible. Thus it is forming auxiliary forces to assist the police. The “Irish Times” (an anti-Sinn Fein •paper) is alarmed at this prospect. It says: —“phis will complete the marshalling of Ireland into two {tripe I camps. The Catholics assert that it is only Carsonites who will enrol in these forces to assist the .English Govern- * LONDON, September U, The report stating that officers’ wives in IrelanJ had been ordered to return to England is officially denied, Commenting on the announcement that' wellrdimposed citizens yould bo enrolled to assist the authorities, the Irish (‘News’’ asks: (‘Are the Go verb r ment a mad Government to set themselves the task of destroying the Irish . Nation? Apparently the beginning .f the end has arrived for half a million Catholics in Ulster.”