IN IRELAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 April 1921, Page 2

IN IRELAND.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

• ULSTER PARLIAMENT. LONDON, April 7. Mr Devlin and Mr De Valera have ratified an agreement whereby the Republicans and the Nationalists will cooperate in the elections in north-east Ireland, each party putting forward anti-partition candidates, whp will accept the principle of self-determination and pledge themselves to abstain from the northern Parliament. The voters will be asked to give their earlier preference to candidates of the party to the agreement. CRIPPLE SHOT DEAD. LONDON, April 9. Late last night two disguised men entered the house of Mrs Byrne at Drumluh, Longforde, and dragged her son Thomas, who was a crippled soldier. lie momentarily escaped into some bracken. He shouted: Save mv mother. One disguised man ran after him and shot the cripple dead in the presence of his mother and sister, aged 17.

HUGHES ANDJAUAN

LONDON “TIMES” COMMENT

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

LONDON, April 8,

The “Times” in a leading article attaches the utmost importance to Mr Hughes’ definition of the Australian attitude towards the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and naval defence. It declares the speech would recall this country, which is over absorbed in local troubles and European complications, to a realisation of the world position of the British group of nations. Both America and Japan are rapidly building warships. If the old sea power are still valid, the Empire must reconcile itself to losing its claim to unchallenged superiority. In the ] aiifie, which is now the principal ocean, possibly, such standards ho longer hold. The relations wherein the Empire s States stand with America and Japan there form a more important consideration, and business relations also. '' Dominions must undergo an almost demoniac change before the thought' war between the navies of the English speaking peoples emerges from the regions of fantastic incredibility. As fains Japan is concerned, the leader states Australia and New Zealand have not forgotten or are likely to forget, her services in securing their shores against the Germans. The doors of the DOlll- - are closed to Japanese, however. They naturally invite envious eves, but Japan may recollect that the same applies to India, as well as to Japan, which may have a soothing influence. Mr Hughes decidedly states that Australia is favourable to renewing the Anglo-Japanese Alliance. Highly'important is his claim *thnt the world’s peace depends, first on the British Empire, secondly on an Anglo-Franco-American understanding, nnc thirdly on a renewal of the Anglo-Ja-panese Treaty. These are axioms for the English speaking world, which cannot compete in armaments without loss of morale, which is more ruinous than financial bankruptcy.