THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 November 1921, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIA!* AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SINN FEIN LETTER. LONDON, November 22. The official organ of Sinn Fein, he ‘•lrish Bulletin” to-day publishes an iipen Letter from Afr John Mac Neill a Sinn Fein leader to Mr de Valera. The letter charges the British Govcr»ment with preparing a sectarian army for a fresh war in Ireland. The ‘Bulletin” 'comments: “Tlie establishment of this sectarian army iir*that part of Ireland where, alone, sectarianism lives, is a natural development of the British policy.” MORE BELFAST STRIFE. LONDON, November 23. Gunmen attacked tramcars in Y’ork Street, Belfast, thk afternoon. Two cars were riddled. The military were engaged with the attackers. A woman was killed and four men wounded. The total ‘ Belfast casualties so far arc 16 killed and 83 wounded. To-day Belfast casualties! are five dead and 13 wounded, including two publicans who were killed. The mobs made further raids upon licensed premises. PRISON RESTRICTIONS. LONDON, November 23. Forty Sinn Feiners imprisoned there set fire to Galway gaol to-day. This was as a protest against the new restrictions imposed oil them, in consequence of the other Sinn Fein internees’ escape elsewhere. The prisoners burned a number of beds, and a quantity (if bedding in two cells, which involved tlie left "' in gThe prisoners afterwards overpowered ; the warders, -and seized their keys, i They then fled to the topmost storey l of tlie right wing, and destroyed its : iron staircase. They barricaded themselves in a room with six warders, who ; were taken as hostages. ; Military forces acted as fire fighters r and they extinguished the flames promptly. After this a strong force of -' police ascended the only remaining - staircase. They attacked the imprisoni cd incendiaries, who were later arrested s after a very fierce fight, in which v five of the warders and five Sinn Fein- - ers were wounded.

A REMARKABLE SPEECH. LONDON, November 23.

Lork Birkenhead (Lord Chancellor and formerly Sir F. E. Smith, associated with l.ord Carson) delivered a speech at an Aldwich Club luncheon, in which lie referred to the Irish question. Ho s;flM that he could not invite them to take an over-sanguine view of the Irish negotiations which were critical. but he could at least point out that the door excluding hope had not yet been definitely closed. The negotiators. lq, said, had a task that was very difficult. Their task would become impossible "if all the world were to bawl advice, menace and abuse outside the conference room.” It also would not he helpful, he said, to demand the publication of documents which obviously were of a confidential nature. Their premature publication would be injurious, and it might wreck the whole prospect of the negotiations. Lord Birkenhead continued: “The prospects of the Irish negotiations are subtly interwoven with the- issues of the Washington Conference. I cannot describe the relief that ther e would he in the whole international atmosphere, and specially in the atmosphere c Anglo-American relations, if the Irish negotiations are brought to a harmonious conclusion, promising tlio loyal continuation of Ireland as a free partner in the British Empire. It will mean the removing of the sole chronic and permanent cause of the AngloAmerican antagonism. This problem of all problems is hound up in the historic disccssions now proceeding at Washington. Judged in its historical perspective, this is the great moment in the history of the whole world. If the Irish Conference fails, it fails; but it presents better proispects of success than any similar gathering in history. ‘•lf this attempt fails,” continued the Lord Chancellor, “and I am choosing illy words deliberately, then I can see little alternative to international bankruptcy. If the Conference succeeds, it may ultimately be possible financially to save Europe and the world.”

IRISH CONFERENCE RESUMED. LONDON, November 23. In connection with the Irish Oonfer- ' eme. a committee consisting of Mr Ll o ytl George, Lord Birkenhead and Mr j Chamberlain (England), and Messrs A. !.Griffiths and Michael Collins (Ireland) conferred for two hours to-day. j WHO WAS GUILTY ? ! (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) ; LONDON, Nov. 24. I T) u , “Daily News” Belfast correspondent states it is certain that the man 1 who bombed the train car was a CathI o ii t . Nationalist or Sinn Fein sympath- | iser The press and Ulsterman gener- ! ally are disposed to assume that Tuesj day’s rioting was caused by Sinn Fein- ' crs.