THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 February 1922, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

RESUMING WORK. REUTEH’B telegrams. LONUON, Feb. 12. Corlc i-aiiwdymen decided to resume work on tends agreed upoii at the recent Conference. ULSTER THREATS; LONDON, Fbb 12.

The Ulster Government demanded that in the event of nori-liberatioii of the kidnapped persons, the British troops will be given d free hand and should garrison the border at danger points, and threaten an organisation of obstruction in the Commons and Lords until the Loyalists a,re released and the Hon Lloyd George undertakes that the boundary will not be altered, without the consent of the Ulster Government and Parliament. DUBLIN DEMANDS. LONDON, Feb. 12. The Sackvillp Street demonstration passed a resolution to uphold the Republic by every means, declaring tor Dail Eireann was incompetent to sanction the pretended Treaty which was null and void and denouncing the proposed election before sanctioned by the Dail Eireann as illegal, and that any attempt to disestablish the republic was a betrayal of Ireland’s interests and not tolerable.

MORE FIGHTING. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, Feb. 13. The “Daily Mail” Belfast correspondent states between seven and eight o’clock in the evening, the rattle of machine gun fire broke out in Oldlodge Street area of the city. Firing is still going on. A youth was killed. Considerable sniping continues in Stanhope and Wall Street areas. Troops are patrolling with armoured cars.

DISCUSSION IN COMMONS. 'Received This Day at P. 40 n.m.l LONDON, February 13. Hon. W. Churchill replying to questions in the Commons, said he had received and accepted from the Free State Government, an assurance that none of the arms handed to the Government were used in the recent raid. Replying to Captain Craig Mr Churchill said ho believed the Free State Government desired to do all in its power to Becure the release of the kidnapped persons but the extent of its power to do so at the present time was much more doubtful. The difficulty was with the I.R.A. organisation in Monaghan, which was incensed at the detention of certain Monaghan men, whe were committed for trial.

Mr Collins has been informed that if the imprisoned men applied for bail the Crown would not oppose, but the Free Staters refused to apply. The shooting and wounding of Ulster constables on Saturday had greatly aggravated the ' situation. Government had strongly urged the Free State Government to arrest the offenders and prevent a repetition of the outrages.