THE IRISH PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM

I LSI KALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. PROTESTANT REFUGEES. LONDON, May 2. A number of Protestant refugees from, County Cork are arriving in Belfast. REPUBLICANS’ ACTION. LONDON, May 1. Latest .reports from Dublin indicate that intense preparations are being made. They are for some unknown objective. Railway and road communication in some places has been cut off,. Trains from Tipperary and Thurles were help up amidst scenes of the greatest excitement. -Roads in the vicinity of Ballybrophy, Limerick, Teinpiemore, and Clonmel were blocked. Two mansions at Castlebar , and Rouborotigh were seized, and the ers evicted. ‘ , In Ireland the bank robberies have been among the most sensational kttidents. Since the inception of the Republicans’ rebellion, more, than £60,000 lias been carried off, including ui Sligo £14,000, in Wexford £IO,OOO, in Ballina £IO,OOO, and in Limerick £3,500. Sums stolen at Ennis, Waterford, Tralee and Mallow are considerable, but the amount is not stated. Only one case of violence occurred, when Gardiner, a bank agent at Westport, resisted. The robber mutineers seized the offices «£ Dublin. Port Dock Boaird, which commands- O’ConneH . Bridge.

AVOIDANCE OF CONFLICT. LONDON, May 2. ___ An interesting document has been, issued, signed by representatives of the Free State regular soldiers, including Michael Collins, and the irregular sections of the Irish Republican. Army, appealing for the closing of the MdJT ranks, to avoid any conflict, and suggesting a unification of the forces on a basis of am acknowledgment of a majority of the Irish people to accept the treaty.

Mr De Valera has simultaneously Issued a statement that Mr Griffith’s proposals for a. peace conference have involved the acceptance of the parti-, tion of Ireland.. Mr De Valera’s pro-, posal is that the treaty be referred to the people at the expiration of six months, wherein .the army will he unified. He says the Dai! Eirean should he kept in'session and adult suffrage passed. There wer e certain rights, he added, which a minority were justified in defending by fore© of arms.