THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 February 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

. BV TELEGRAPH—PEK PItESS ASSOCIATION]

. DE. VALERA’S FAITH. / LONDON, February 21. At the Sinn Fein Congress Mr de Valera declared: ‘‘l have faith in the Irish nation, and believe that, whatever is done here to-day, Ireland will oe free. That spirit which has brought us four years on our way, is not going to be quenched by a single vote. If we divide on great principles, who is going to blame us? We are ill brothers here. Griffith and I were colleagues, and no power in England is going to divide us. As a nation we have never accepted British rule. I ask you in God’s name not to give a British monarch the democratic title of ruler of Ireland. Mr de Valera said that an alternative existed to war. He would rather see Ireland flooded with British troops and Ireland' be without a. single gun .

than that their conference should commit the irrevocable act of giving to ’>s the British troops the right to be there. If .he said they could not resist actively then they could resist passively. Ireland was their mother and she should not occupy the position of an illegitimate daughter! He would rather he a Unionist than take the status of the Free State. Mr Griffiths submitting an amendment (as cabled on' February 1) said that when the delegates went to -London Mr de Valera’s Cabinet knew they - could not bring back the .Republic. There was likely he said to be a split in Sinn Fein one lasting for some years, though Iris party were willing to sliake hands with the de Valeraites :f they got a fair chance. Tlie Sinn Fein Congress adjourned till to-morrow, 'i ■ ~< .

-Hopes are entertained that an agreement between the parties may 'be reached. The Irish Republican Government has secured the release of 17 more hostages. INQUIRY INTO ULSTER, DOINGS. LONDON, February 22. The Lord Chancellor in the House of Lords moved for the appointment of a tribunal to enquire into the Clones kidnapping and the raid in Ulste r . He declared that the conditions in Ireland were now ten times worse than prior to when the so-called peace was-signed. Lord Buokmaster disapproved of the enquiry. He thought that Irejandfs only hope lay in the strengthening of the hand of the Free State Government.

Lord Middleton (Unionist) urged the withdrawal of the motion in the interests of peace. Lord Birkenhead said that .both the Northern and the Free State-Govern-ments demanded an enquiry, and he must proceed with the motion. ....... Lord Carson moved an amendment but it was negatived without a division Lord Birkenhead’s 'motion-was carried by 41 to 40 ULISTEIR ATTITUDE LONDON, February 21 Field Marshal Wilson has been returned unopposed for the North Down seat.

The Northern Government telegraphed Mr Churchill, stating they could not recognise the. Irish Republican Army and °the y desired it to be understood that they “could not submit to any further outside interference in the administration of justice in Northern Ireland, at the instigation of persons hostile to the existence of their Government.” This is in reference to the Viceroy of Ireland's action relating to the Derry prisoners. DE VALERA CRITICISED. (Received This Day at'B.3o a.m.) , , . NEW YORK, Feb. 21

The “Gaelic American” in to-mor-row’s issue, will say that De Valera has drawn a quarter of a million dollars of Irish Republic funds for use in an attempt to have Ireland renounce the Irish Free States. Tine'funds were deposited in De Valera’s own name-ancl there is still a large, sum he can use for the same purpose. The newspaper adds that De Valera is the most sinister influence that ever appeared in the public life of Ireland,