THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 16 February 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

fBV TELEOKAMI —VEtt PIIESS ASSOCIATION] COLLINS’ ACTION. LONDON, Feb. 14. Mr Michael Collins has telegraphed to Mr Winston Churchill as follows: — “1 am hhapy to inform you that I. am in a position to secure the release of a number of prisoners. I am not certain about the number, but will know later in the day.”

SNIPING CONTINUES. LONDON, Feb. 14

This afternoon the snipers In Belfast shot repeatedly into the Royal Avenue, the principal thoroughfare of Belfast. Plate glass windows were shattered. Vehicular traffic had to be suspended. One man named Wallace was killed, and another was shot in the neck. IN ULSTER. LONDON, February 14. In order to make raids diffictilt, the mountain roads in Counties Fermanagh and Tyrone (where there are nationalist majorities) are being rendered impassable by volunteer labour.

WILL LLOYD GEORGE RESIGN? LONDON, February 14.

It is rumoured in tbe lobbies that Mr Lloyd George intends to resign the Premiership shortly. The “Westminster Gazette” says the rumour emanate® from the Coalition-Liberal circles. The paper interprets it as a threat and a« intended to frighten the Conservatives, through their fear of facing a general election without Mr Lloyd George’s leadership.

EVACUATING THE MILITARY. LONDON, Feb 14

In the House of Commons, Rt Hon Mr Churchill, replying to a. question, said that apart from serious political reasons, the British Government has ■received unanimous advice from its military advisers against having troops on the south side of the Irisb-Ulster border.

BIRKENHEAD’S NEW NOTE. LONDON, Feb. 14

Lord Birkenhead (Lord Chancellor) replying in, the House of Lords to questions, said:—“We should deceive ourselves if we blinded our eyes to the fact that the next few weeks that we shall be passing through will be the most grave and critical period within living memory in the history of our gelations with Ireland. Whether we will succeed, I do not know.. If all the men of the two countries who wish to see the Treaty succeed co-operate, there is still a great chance. We' might be so fortunate. The deln(v, however, has been lamentable. Nobody could measure the consequences that might (low from it. None could have anticipated the Dail .Kireann’s discussions would have been so protracted, thereby postponing and may-lie jeopardising the Treaty.”

BIRKENHEAD AND COLLINS

LONDON, Fee 14

In the House of Lords, Lord Birkenhead, continuing, said it was plain that Mr Collins was apprehensive tnat an attempt might be made, by violence to wreck the Irish Treaty and to destroy the Irish Provisional Government It was therefore our duty—so far as our honourable obligations to the North permitted—to support those Irishmen who were making a courageous attempt to carry out tile, Treaty to which they had set their hands He still hoped that the discussions between Sir Jaimes Craig and Mr Collins might be recommended. The duty of everyone was under any proveation or disappointment, to keep cool heads and quiet tongues. Lord Birkenhead continued‘ ‘lf the suffrages of the Irish people were taken on the question of the endorsement of the Treaty, the position even then would be difficult; but our moral position would be stronger.” It would lie said, require the goodwill of both the parties to the Treaty to carry it through. It would take but a few people, to destroy its prospects. Lord Birkenhead said he desired to say that b'e did not criticise the conduct of the Northern Government in arrestng the footballers, on the ground that they had carried anus.

Turning to the queston of the Southern Irish Government, Lord Birkenhead asserted that the extent to which they were crippled in their attempts to maintain law and restore order could hardly be exaggerated. He said the majority of the Irish Republican Army supported the Irish Provsional Governmeint, but there was some important areas which would not i obey instructions. The Irish Government lacked the means of enforcing their orders over these recalcitrants, Pesonally, he had no doubt that the Prvisional Government were doing their best under the extraordinary conditions. CONTINUAL SNIPING. LONDON, Feb. 14. Belfast press messages report that extreme tenson is exhibited in the city, the shootings going on almost continuously in some areas. It is stated Mr Collins’s admission that a coup d’etat is passible causes no surprise in Ulster, where it is known a coup d’etat would be followed by a strong attack against the frontier. Recruits are being enlisted for the Ulster Special Constabulary, and are pouring in.

The Belfast disorders were so serious on Tuesday night that the military, were called out to assist in restoring, order. One sodier was wounded.

Bishop MacEjory (Catholic Bishop) lias telegraphed to Mr Lloyd George, asking for the protection of the Belfast Catholics. He alleges that they are now being murdered. The enquiries have shown that the majority of Monday’s victims were* Catholics, while almost all Tuesday’s were Protestants.