CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 3

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN ANL N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

. POSITION IN IRELAND. - jMfc'*' (Received This Day at 8.130 a.m.) LONDON, March .27. Hon W. Churchill replying to a shoal of questions on Ireland, said undoubtedly a number of people were in great danger as the recent outrages showed. Facilities would be given to enable the people to move to another part of Ireland, or out of the country altogether.

COLLINS CHALLENGES RE VALERA. LONDON, March 27. Mr Collins (Irish Free State Minister) speaking a,t Waterford City, challenged Mr de Valera to declare his position. Mr de Valera, he said, must publicly repudiate the utterances of his supporters such as Mr ... Burgess, Mr Austin Stack, and Commandant O’Connor. Mr Collins pointed out that Sir James Craig and his Northerners would not consider the proposal of their entering the Free State while the latter was divided internally If, he said, Mr de Valera can .unite the country, accept the Irish treaty and work for the Free State, he (Collins) would gladly stand aside.

i LONDON CONFERENCE. [Received This Day at 10.15 a.m.l LONDON, March 27.

Ulster Cabinet approved of Sir J. Craig’s acceptance of the invitation to the London Conference.

BARRACKS ATTACKED. (Received This Day nt 10.15 a.m.l LONDON, March 27.

Republicans yesterday attacked Newtown Canningham police barracks in Donegal which was occupied by Free State troops. At the end of three hours rifle firing, the attackers retired, leaving six prisoners. Several of the attackers were wounded.

STATEMENT I3Y C'OLLTNS. LONDON, March 27. Mr Collins madfe a statement that be would attend, though the Provisional ’ Government had not sought a conference in London. The Free State, had been ever ready to reach an agreement with Craig and had goße far to meet the latter. It had never broken any .undertaking given. Unfortunately Craig had not been equally meticulous. He neither kept his undertakings nor ' attempted to nieiet the Free State on several Controversial points. Thoug i hoping for the best from the Conference, Mr Collins said he could not see * any escape from the northern impasse, until Craig radically altered Ins mimical attitude, towards the Free State and Belfast's helpless minority.