THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

HAY RELEASED. kkutkk’s telegrams LONDON, January 5. Kay was released. As a special correspondent of “Times” he traversed the country gathering impressions of popular opinion of the treaty. Apparently his reports angered the extremists. The statemnt is made that journalists were present at kidnapping, they having a dinner at a grocer’s shop. IQontray to custom they weore invited into an inner room and' the door was locked. Three men entered and covered the party with revolvers and told Kay a car was waiting outside and he would have to come or he riddled. The other correspondents were menaced into silence. Hay was told to hand over his copy to his colleagues. The kidnappers said they were taking Ka'y in order to make him retrace, certain statements. The journalists protested 1 to Fitzgerald, who attempted to raise j the matter at a sitting of the Dail 1 Eireann hut he was not allowed. Col- ! I ins and colleagues are most indignant 1 icver the Lndidenb, and believe the 1 move emanated from Cork.

IRISH AFFAIRS

LONDON, Jan. 5.

There is a note of pessimism in Dublin in regard to the fate of the treaty. While it is conceded that de Valera’s proposal has very little influence, yet there has been a change in the last twenty-four hours, that lead optimists to feci the treaty is in jeopardy. Mr Walsh believes that it will be rejected by two votes. There are a number of wobblers whose filial decision cannot be guessed.

It is just revealed that armed men yesterday captured Mr Kay, the Dublin correspondent' of the London ‘•Times,” in Leeson Street, and drove him away in a motor car. The kidnappers warned the journalists accompanying Kay not to raise the alarm, and declared that he would he unhurt. He was wanted to refute a statement. Dail Eiieanu will discuss the mat-

ter. The Dail Eireann has adjourned and meets privately to-morrow. A committee is seeking a way out ol the impasse. v The following is an addendum to Document Two: While refusing the right to any part of Ireland to be excluded from the authority *of the Irish Parliament, it agrees not to coerce Ulster, and agrees to give safeguards not less ’substantial than those of the treaty.

GOVER NMENT’S IIEFUSAL.

.LONDON, Jan. 5

A high authority in London point-, out that de Valera’s amendment is not new. Its details were thoroughly thrashed out during the negotiations and finally rejected. The British Government would not accept them.

DAIL RESUMES. LONDON, Jan. 5

The. excitement was intense’when the Dail Eireann assembled this morning. Mr Fitzgerald attempted to raise the question of the kidnapping off Kay, but the Speaker ruled him out of order. The Speaker then accepted a motion for the immediate adjournment of the Dail until the afternoon. Both parties ..greed upon the adjournment in order curtail the debate. During the Interval, the party leaders conferred, seeking to escape from an impasse. The ratificationists admitted that the rejectionists have gained ground since Tuesday. This confirmed Mr Walshe’s pessimistic forecast.

PARTIAL AGREEMENT REPORTED LONDON, )Jan 5. The Dail Eireann has had a committee appointed to try to compose; the differences over the settlement. The committee repors to a private meeting to-morrow. The Negotiating Committee consists of four ratifications and five oppositionists. Commandant Duffy is one of the negotiators. He informed the Dail Eireann that a. substantial agreement had already been reached on a number of vital poinjts. He added that he thought that it would be possible to retain Mr De Valera’s services, but a. scheme had not’ been agreed on by the leaders themselves. Mr Mulachy then moved that the Dail Eireann meet in private. AFTERNOON MEETING ADJOURNS

LONDON, Jan 5. The Dail Eireann reassembled in the afternoon. It only sat for an hour before it adjourned again by a party agreement. / ... • '■■■- “FREEMAN’S JOURNAL.” \ ; LON RON, Jan 5. During a meeting to-day of the Dail Eireann there were lively protests against the “Freeman’s Journal” article against De Valera. A motion to exclude its reporters from the Dail Eireann was moved but was withdrawn after a discussion.

OPPONENTS OF TREATY RESIGN. LONDON, Jan 5. Mr'Drohan has resigned on the ground that his constituents in East Tipperary demand ratification. H® said he could not vote for the Treaty. | It is expected that four or fivei other Deputies will adopt the same course. MORE BELFAST RIOTING. LONDON, Jan 5. Shooting occurred in Belfast on Thursday night. The military forces dispersed the rioters. Messrs McMahon and Lee will sell by auction, on Monday next at 11 a.m. at Reefton, five draught horses, drays and harness. Particulars in another column, j

DE VALERA RESIGNS

AND THEN WITHDREW IT. Oteoeived This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 6. De Valera has resigned the Presidency and a new Ministry is being formed, but De Valera later withdrew bis resignation on an agreement being arrived at, that the vote on the treaty be taken on Saturday.

DE VALERA’S ANNOUNCEMENT. {Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, Jan 6. De Valera announced 1 :—“I am resigning the Presidency. With it goes the Ministry. The Dail Eireann will have constitutionally to eject a chief executive officer. I intend to' offer myself for re-election on the principles enunciated in 1916. I shall seek a. Cabinet who will think with me, and I shall demand that all reseurcea he handed over to defend the “Republic.”* Finally De Valera withdrew his r«cignation on a mutual agreenjfent- te take a. straightout vote on the ratification on Saturday.