THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1921, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Aiifeiit aLiajc and n.z. cABi-fc association. fCHAT says: londqx, Nov. Uhe “Daily Express” Lobyhist says : - Sir James Craig has told Mr l-hiyd George emphatically that he could not join an all-Ireland Parliament— not under any circumstances whatever. Mr Lloyd George, however, is now trying to induce the Cabinet of Ulster tu eon- , aider the possibility of an All Ireland -• Parliament »clieiiie later, "hen the feeling between the North and South is less. LONDON, Nov. I'd. The Attorney-General, Sir Gordon ilewnrt, speaking at Leicester, said:— “While the Irish Conference is in bein'. the hope of a lasting settlement must not he abandoned, hut there are matters that arc so vital or fumlamen- - tal that they cannot he subject to any kind of compromise. One of theae is Irish allegiance to the Crown. M hat is expected from Ireland is the same allegiance as Australia, Canada, and South Africa owe the Crown, which represents the reality of common citizenship. It will not he possible foi Irishmen at one and the* same time to he aliens aid citizens.

MOKE SOLDIERY AT BICUEAST. LONDON, Nov. 2o Belfast City is quieter to-day. The Lancashire Fusiliers have arrived there frlim Dublin. gtftiK- military fortes with armoured cars, patrolled the streets to-day. Some spasmodic firing was resumed this afternoon. A man' was killed and a woman dangerously wounded. a _cr a harbour coastal.!* on duty at the docks was shot dead. This makes t past week’s death roll now to he twenty-six.

TORY PRESS REPORT. LONDON, Nov. 25. The Belfast emTospdmlent of the London “Daik Telegraph” makes the statement that ‘the most recent shooting in Belfast has destroyed any vestige of a chance of Ulster compronnsing in ith Irish settlement. He •• the Unionists unanimously regald tic shootihg as outrages that are part of a plan aimed at making the Gottmment of Ulster Impossible. “Feeling against Bum hem he adds “was never more intense. tis hopeless to expect Ulster to enter_ any Parliament controlled hy Sinn tcin.

SINN FEIN’S OFFER. LONDON. Nov 20. it is hot exacted that any pronounce ment on the Irish situation wil' be made before Tuesday, when tin Lists i Parliament opens. Sir Janies Craig has had a-'ii'U-view with the Premier. He has ill us learnt the details of the latest scheme of settlement, which the Mghsh G - eminent also pronounced to the - Fein delegat ion in their hist Cinferem ( with the "Cabinet. ‘lt is generally believed hbal the Sinn Fein leaders, on their own initiative, offered to make new concessions to I Ister These are Ulster fiscal autonomy and’an Ulster right of veto on the institution of an All-Ireland Parliament. The Sinn Feiners remained adamant m their demand regarding the institution of an All-Ireland Parliament. Th e position is, nevertheless, still * -most critical. hut it is not yet hopeless.

UfSTER UNIONIST ATTITUDE LONDON, Nov 26.

Sir James Craig (Ulster Premier), lias' received a- warning Irom the Belfast public that the feeling among the Unionists is so inflamed that a frightful conflagration might he expected at any moment.

Extra troops and hundreds of special constables have arrived in Belfast. There are elaborate precautions also being taken to safeguard trannars. East week’s death roll was 24. The papers declare that Beliast outbreaks are causing the gravest apprehension, and are engendering fooling in the- Ulster Cabinet that- is prejudicial in its holding consultations with the Southern Irish delegates.

WHAT WILL ULSTER DO LONDON, Nov.

Sir Janies Craig (L Inter Premier), spent an lfcour this morning with Mi J,lovd .George. It was for the purpose of receiving the Government’s latest proposal* for a ..a-is m sett lenient. ' Sir Janies Craig refused, however, subsequently to make any statement. No communique has been issued from Downing Street. Sir James Craig was asked whether ),o would lie returning to Downing Street in the afternoon. fie replied: “Not if I can help it.” There probably will lie no further meeting of the two Premiers until after the Ulster Parliament meets oil Tuesdav. A Downing Street official, when questioned, as to whether the shortness of the interview signified a possible rupture, replied that lie would not tell yet, but said that Tuesday would be an important dtiy. LONDON, Nov. 27.

It is authoritatively stated when the Ulster Parliament opens, Sir James Craig will probably make a settlement that has been agreed upon between Mr Lloyd George and himself, giving their view of the situation and the negotiations to date. The 'future course of events, it is stated, depends largely on the Ulster Parliament next week. LONDON, Nov. 20.

Tile “Daily Express” Lobbyist writes | under the heading “Ulster Out oi .the Picture.” He declares: “The only chance of an Irish settlement now lies I in the Sinn Feiners accepting a' Donnii- 1 ion Parliament for all the South Of Ire- j land counties. This moans leaving Ulster’s position unchanged. He adds: “The Sinn Fein delegate* have taken this proposition bo Dublin foil the Da* Eireaun leaders and,' members’ efinsideration. *■ The possibilities of acceptance of this proposal by Sinn Fein are not bright. However, adds the Lobbyist, there are great" inducements for Sinn Fein'to accept the proposal, the chief one being an escape from higher taxation that is now operating m 'Britain, and also in Ulster to-day.

LIBERAL PARTY ATTITUDE.. LONDON, Nov. 26. Rt. Hon. IT. H. Asquith ad dressed ameeting of t-lie Liberals at Newcastle He declared: “The, Liberals would not lie parties, for the sake merely of one comer of the province of Ulster, to the coercion of the great miw of the Irish people.”

I BELFAST TURMOIL, LONDON, Nov. 2(5 General Mac ready * (Commafidei' of Police) has arrived in Belfast City. The Lord. Mayor has announced that additional troops are promised, it necessary. He says the corporation have decided to oortr all lhe tramcar windows with wire netting as a protection against bombs. SUMMARISING NEGOTIATIONS (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) J,ON DON, Nov. 2(5. The “Observer” summarising the Irish negotiations, says Ulster should not prejudice her own situation. She has not been asked to commit suicide for the Empire’s sake. She has been asked to make some concession to the peace and contentment of Ireland within the Empire. Thoughtful Irishmen will view with dismay the future if Ulster as a disconnected part oft hostile Ireland, as a. State without tolerance fcvmded on coercion, soothing with suppressed discontent, more and more compelled to condone mob violence. Tf Ulster Cabinet is to play at statesmanlike part, it will linvc to face its mob. We do not think it has been faced, yet. Tf nat faced, the government of Ulster wiil pass under the sway of sectarian passion from the by-streets. Future negotiations hang on the slenderest thread. Whatever the result the two facts may he stated jliat there is no question «f coercion of Ulster, neither can there he a question of coercing South Ireland, while it is prepared to recognise tine Crown and Empire.

LORD BIRKENHEAD'S VIEWS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. Nov. 27. Lo*l Birkenhead, speaking at Tunbridge Wells, said the present was the most anxious time since the armisti-e. There wnts still a great hope of Lloyd George going to Washington. The Irish quarrel had weakened the whole Empire and produced unhappy com*qnonces in United States. There was a greater tribunal than the Irish Conference or Imperial Parliament-, name-,\ a tribunal consisting of citizens of the Empire. If the only method of attaining peace consisted of force. i : seemed wo Rritish Government could shrink therefrom, hut it would not bring a contented Ireland nearer. None could complain that the Governmert had not offered Ireland Hie whole substance of her historic claims. Neither directly or indirectly, in any cohtiugenc.v, was the Government’s pblicy to apply coercion to Ulster and no question of taking from her the special privileges under the 192(1, act could arise, hut Government hoped some time in the near future that Ulster would recognise, that her interests in many matters could best lie served by an All Ireland Assembly. This was the gravest- desire which had arisen from the cooler-•"■e He could not predict- it would he solved. It would he misleading you il 1 pretended the anxieties relating to the conference have in any way diminished. Hunger striking Sinn Fein pris ~h-i - line been transferred to English prisons.

IRISH IBM'ltS LONDON. Nov. 27. Fitzgerald, intern, wed. said the Irish situation was very delicate. “We jump from crisis to crisis. Eve grown weary of saving it we weather storm there may lie a elnmeo of peace.

ULSTim’S DEMAND. LONDON, Novemer 26. bold Birkenhead, and Mr Chamberlain will lake up the Irish question. Ulster is demanding definite written insurances of Sinn Fein allegiance.

LLOYD GEORGE FOR AMERICA. (Received This Day at. 8 a.m.) LONDON. Nov. 20. According to the “Sunday I imes.” Hon l.lovtl George sails for America in tli,. middle of December at the latest, but earlier if possible.

A MURDER. LONDON. Nov. 26

A Belfast message declares .Sinn Coiners murdered at the docks. Constable McHenry, cabled oil 25th) Nov ill revenge for tlu* disclosure of a plot ■ ,I, lorry bOatß, whichl were honv ilv laden with sbinvard workers. TEN YEARS. (Received This Day at 8 a 'll.) LONDON, Nov. ‘JO.

John Fitzgerald, an Irishman was sentenced to ten years at Afaiiohoster for possessing hoinhs. rifles and uminiini tion. He pleaded that if it, is patriotic for Englishmen to say my country is rijrht or wrong. Irishmen could claim the same right.