THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 December 1921, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. SINN FEIN REJECT TERMS. LONDON, Dec 4. Sinn Fein rejected the terms. FULL BRITISH CABINET. SUMMONED OVER IRELAND. LONDON, December 5. The British Cabinet has been sum-, moned for noon to-day to deal with the Irish question.

WILL NEGOTIATIONS RF. STOPPED. LONDON, December 5. To-day’s Cabinet meeting is regarded as indicating that the Irish question is passing temporarily from the hands of the Government’s peace representatives. As regards peace representatives any further meeting has not been at tanged by Britmn with th Sinn Fein delegates, who, however are remaining meantime in London. It is pointed out that whatever is going to be dona, must be done to-day, in view of Mr Llovd George having given a pledge to Sir .T. Craig that the Irish negotiations would en'd definitely to-day.

IS THE WORST COMING. LONDON, December 5

It is stated in regard to the Trish iirisis that if the worst conies, only a fortnight remains, under the terms of the truce in which to devise a way to prevent a reversion in Ireland.

ALLEGED BREACH OF TRUCE. LONDON, December 4. Five British military officers of the Worcestershire Regiment were watching an Trish Republican Army review ilcar Loughies on Saturday. They were seen and were surrounded by some Sinn Fein volunteers and arrested. They were deprived of the cameras and notebooks they were using and their arms. They were detained for two hours. The Sinn Feiners allege their actions arc a breach of the truce.

LONDON PRESs REPORTS. LONDON, December 5.

The London “Daily Telegraph’s” Dublin correspondent writes: “The Dai I Eireann spent less time in considering Mr Lloyd Gedrge’s new proposal than in discussing the possibility of continuing the truce if the conference fals to agree. Sinn Fein is not yieldinjg on tire question of the oath of allegiance. It is continuing its demand for an independent Irish Republic. Sinn Fein is also not likely to agree as a condition of the truce that Ireland should return to the state of things prevailing there before tbe Republic was proclaimed. "On the other hand (says the rorreKpondcnt), if the British Govornmcnt accepts the present situation in Ireland as the basis of a scheme for the preserving of peace, such acceptance will undoubtedly be claimed as a. recognition of the Republic. If peace in Ireland is preserved, however, despite any failure of the conference, then certainly there will not be the same terms as during the truce, lf .it is found impossible to agree to a plan for tbe postpunment of hostilities until the prospect for a settlement is brighter, then the position indeed will be exceedingly grave.

ULSTER RIOTING. LONDON. December a. Regarding the recent attempt of Sinn Feiners. kept in Derry Gaol to escape, there is reported to l>e intense public feeling. Disturbances in Derry are feared. In consequence of this the police have been heavily reinforced thert. Firing occurred in Derrv on Saturday night. A bomb was flung from a c ity wall, w recking a house occupied by a Catholic, who is an ex-serviceman. There were no casualties. DERRY GAOL EPISODE. LONDON, I)eceml>er 5. Two ' warders, Patrick Leonard and Michael Finnegan have bocal charged with conspiring to murder the constables, Gorman and Little, who were concerned in the attempt of Sinn Feiners to escape from Derry gaol. Two warders were remanded. Callaghan, a motorist also was remanded on * a

charge of assisting prisoners in an at t’ompt to escape.

DE VALERA’S DECLARATION. LONDON. December 5. Tli'e Sinn Fein President, (Ramon do Valera, speaking at Galway, said: ‘•When we started out on our programme. we counted cost; and we are not going to quail now; not even though the certain price for freedom lias to he paid. Freedom has never yet been won without sacrifice. Our country must he as prepared for that now as it has been in the past.” A “TIMES” LEADER. “ THE (Received This Day at S.TO a.m.) LONDON, December 5. The ‘Times” in a leader dealing with Ireland, describes the Sinn Fein j.cply as a reasoned negative, but not breaking off negotiations. The Government difficulty now is how to design a scheme giving Ulster the option of remaining aloof, qpnihincd with l>ouerfill inducements to enter. To concede more than Parliament is likely to endorse, would create greater difficulty than now exists. The delivery of the reply to Sir James Craig within the time limit is less important than the definiteness of such a reply. CRITICAL STACK. LONDON. Dec 4. l.atcr in tlm afternoon Hon Lloyd George, Hon Chamberlain, Sir R. llorne and Lord Birkenhead had a conference with Griffiths,. Barton anti Cavan Dully, tit No 10, Downing Street. I.loyd George was hastily called hack so town to receive the Sinn Fein reply. The meeting broke tip after 1J hours. It is understood in official circles that, tiie situation is most unpromising and Negotiations are at a most critical stage.