THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1921, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

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further discussion. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATIONLONDON, Dec. 20. Airs O’Callaghan, widow of the exLord Mayor of Limerick, declared the delegates who had been bluffed by means of a threat of war were now trying to bluff them into ratification. Mr Hogan approved of the Treaty on the grounds that it legally sanctioned their sovereign and gave them as much as France and more than Germany. Mr O’Kafiy, Republican envoy to Paris declared that within a year the people would burst up the treaty and turn their backs oil those who were trying to foist it on them. Ireland would not stand by Griffiths and Collins, Muleahy, McKeown, and S. King. Before the afternoon session, the Dail Eireann sat in private to hear the Defence Minister’s military statement.

DK VALERA’S STRENGTH LONDON, December 20 To-day’s meeting of the Dail Eireann showed Mr de Valera’s strength. It is stated to be due to the fact that a largo element of the Dail Eireann is sublimely indifferent to the existence of outside public opinion, and that they only respond to influences within their own special groups. A CRITIC OF DE VALERA. Mr Milroy on Tuesday, described Mr de Valera, as a man who, without aid of argument and logic, swayed audiences by wild, impassioned tornados of denunciation, and talked across the prostrate forms of his victims. He declared it was not statesmanship but wild fury. “Document Number Two” as Mr d p Valera’s secret alternative treaty was described, loomed like a spectre during a. .greater part of the debate, until Mr Milroy disclosed its gist. Mr Milroy said he was not quoting an Englishman, but Mr de Valera himself, when he said that the difference between the two documents was only a, shadow. 'flien he read Mr de Valera’s form of oath. Next dramatically pointing to Mr de Valera and Mr Burgess, Mr Milroy asked whether they 'were going to send the youth of Ireland to death for such a shadow? Mr de Valera sprang up, white with passion, and faced the moderates, who wore triumphant for a minute or two. Mr do Valera, Mr Griffiths, Countess Markievcz, and several others wei e then on Toot protesting. fllr Griffiths demanded that the whole of the second form of treaty should be published when there had been order restored. Mr de Valera shouted angrily: “If that is published then all the documents must he made public.” There is now talk of a decision by Thursday, but many members wish to adjourn until after Christmas, though responsible members point out the danger of delay. LONDON. December 20. British Ministers in London say they do m>t regard Mr Barton’s description in Dail Eireann of the Downing Street proposals as fair. They say that the Irish signatures were not obtained uniler duress, and that there was no dramatic ultimatum by Mr Lloyd George, such as “Sign or factwar between Britain and Ireland!” This, they state, is a travesty of the real happenings. They admit, though that Mr Lloyd .oorge certainly recalled the seriousness of the results if a settlement were not achieved. Dr Macartan, formerly the Republican Ambassador to Washington, said: that the division in the Sinn Fein Cabinet was a Block division. Each element was responsible for a betrayal of Ireland. The republic had been betrayed. not in London, by the delegation, but in Dublin, by the Cabinet Internationally, he claimed, the Republic was dead. The Dail Eireann has adjourned until to-morrow. f LONDON. December 21. The Dail Eireann opened at least half an hour late on Tuesday. Mr Collins first walked into the Council Chamber at the appointed time. It was then absolutely empty. The members were chattering in the corridors. When the Speaker entered Mr Collins protested at habitual unpunctuality on the part of members. He was promised the Dail Eireann would meet punctually on Wednesday.

BELFAST COMMOTION. ! LONDON, Dec. 20. Sniping and shooting are of daily r occurrence in parts of Belfast. Last c night a military force surrounded a r large area infested with gunmen. The soldiers carried out a house to house t search. They captured quantities of , arms and ammunition. They also made 30 arrests. The military made a Bayonet charge on some gunmen in Cupar Street, of tlio Falls Road area of Belfast. 1 f SINN FEIN PRISONERS. ' 1 LONDON, December 21. 1 On application of the defence, the 'Chief Justice at Belfast adjourned i till January 11th the trial of fifteen j Sinn Feiners accused with the murder of two constables when they attempted to escape from Londonderry Gaol recently. Temporary Warder Leonard 1 alone recognised the Court. The others stated they would only recognise a court controlled by the Irish Free State.