THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 11 February 1922, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOOi—?ion STATEMENT BY O’DUFFY. LONDON, February 9. The Star’» Belfast correspondent states O’Duffy, Chief of Staff ofthe Republican Army made a stateme t • ‘‘The patience of our people m Ulster teen sorely tried lately by contmuL ons raids, arrests and tortures comnnt- - ted by agents of the Northern Goveinmt?Duffv admits that the men captured acted try Ida °rdets to save hfe arid property from Orange lirobs H declares the chltnihating point was the evident intentioit of tire Northern Government, to tang the Derrj gaol prr--sotiers: I’his waS evidenced by; the erection of a scaffold and the arrival of the hangmaii. O’Duffy ponchides th^ there eah be phabb fc wheri the Northern Government wills it. mere will hot be peace while men are r custody.

IRISH military control

LONDON February 9. The Irish disturbances in Ulster (formed the subject of a series of questions in the House of Commons. In reply, Mr Churchill sard the Irish Provisional Government had not requested Britain to retain the troops m Ireland It would be impossible to give the date of the completion of the withdrawal of the British troops from Southern Ireland. He was arranging to transfer a large portion ot thrs army's stores to the Irish Provisional Government, but the transfer a large portion of this army’s stores to the Irish Provisional Government but the transfer of anything in the nature of munitions of war or transport would be strictly regulated. . A member: As a possibility ot civil war exists, will the Minister undertake that not another rifle or bullet will bet handed over ? ' Mr Churchill: “I will give no such undertaking. So long as the Irish Provisional Government carries out the Treaty, we will equip it with all the means to maintain order within its own territory. Mr Churchill replying to a question as to whether Ulster would receive the same consideration said that the Imperial Government is responsible in every way for assistance in the maintenance of law and order throughout Northern Ireland, and its function would be discharged with adequate forces. ULSTER’S MOBILISATION LONDON, February 9. Mr Churchill at the adjournment of the House of Commons was questioned as to the latest news from Ireland. He Baid he was confident the lives of any kidnapped men would not be endangered. The Northern Government was mobilising a considerable force of special constables on the frontier, and the British Government had promised it the fullest support, so as to maintain law and order. GRIFITH’S CONFIDENCE. LONDON', February 9. k The Irish Provisional Government leader, Mr Arthur Griffith, in an interview, said he was satisfied to give the Treaty full effect. He was confident that with patience and restraint on both sides, the so-called Ulster question would be amicably settled on the basis of a united Ireland. The Irish Provisional Government did not possess full governmental powers at present, btut it may be relied on, he said, to take every action within its circumscribed powers to prevent any illegalities or disorder. Mr M. Collins, in an interview, referred to a statement by Mr de Valera, declaring that Mr Lloyd George’s policy was once more to trick the Irish people and to deal with Mr Griffith -nd Mr Collins just as he dealt with Mr - Redmond and Mr John Dillon. Mr Collins stated: “Our position is different. We make our decisions and decide how we are to deal with Mr Lloyd George.”

big raid called off. LONDON, February 9. Four thousand armed' Sinn Feiners with three hundred motor cars, assembled in a valley in Donegal County on Tuesday night. They were ready to advance on Derry. They dispersed however, as soon as the news of the Derry Sinn Fein prisoners’ release arrived. BILL READ FIRST TIME. LONDON, Feb. 9. In the House of Commons, the Irish Free State Agreement Bill was read the first time. ULSTER SEIZES CHANCE. TO CONCENTRATE FORCES. LONDON, Feb. 9. Ulster is concentrating a, large force of police on the southern frontier, where 5000 are already posted. Dublin reports state that most of the prominent nationalist journals denounce the raids as indefensible, hough they condemn the belated announcement that itht Derry prison murderers had been reprieved. The “Irish Times” says: The shootings and seizures in Fermanagh and the kidnappings in Sligo are heartrending nets of folly and wickedness. The Provisional Government must try to appreciate Ulster’s feeling of anger and resentment, and 1 Sir* J. Craig must make every possible allowance for the Provisional Government’s difficulties. It has worked hard in many directions, but has not yet been able to' establish real authority, and has not had time to replace the British machinery of law with effective machinery of its own.