THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 March 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE 'ASSOCIATION. IRISH FREE STATE BILL. LONDON, March 8. Jn the Commons, the Irish Free State Bill was read a third time by 295 votes to 52. IRISH AFFAIRS. LONDON, March 8. Mr de Valera presided over a meeting of the Ulster branches of Sinn Fein. The meeting decided to ask the Dail Eireann to impose again the trade boycott on Ulster owing to the outrages committed in Belfast.

MORE BELFAST SCENES. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 8. There were extraordinary sccenes on Wednesday evening in Belfast. Police and snipers fought a battle in the network of streets about Royal Avenue. The noise of machine guns, rifles and revolvers was terrific. People in the neighbourhood were terrified. The snipers began firing down the streets into Royal Avenue but the police engaged them in armoured cars and speedily cleared the streets, though traffic was impossible as snipers were still hidden in the houses and oil roofs.

A GUARD ATTACKED. .Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 9 A British officer, a sergeant and eight men guarding the stores at Waterford station, were attacked by a large party of armed men who overpowered them and forced them to surrender rifle arid equipmohi,

IRISH SETTLEMENT.

DISCUSSION IN LORDS

(Received This Day at 8 a.m.) LONDON, March 9

Lord Birkenhead, in the Lords/ replying to Lord Carson, and Lord Duffariu, who bitterly denounced the Treaty, alleging {he Government were giving preferential treatment to disloyalists, as loyalists, said it is the view of the Government that an overwhelming majority of the English people supported the Treaty. We believe if we appealed early in the year for a mandate from the constituencies that there would be an overwhelming majority id favorih of the Treaty. We may yet be driven to ascertain whether we are right or wrong ill not making the appeal. Certainly we shall not shrink from doing so should the contingency arise.