CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 June 1922, Page 2

CABLE NEWS.

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

iUaTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOC..-/lON

IRELAND. LONDON, June 2

Mr-Michael Collins, interviewed here to-night said he would admit the situai tiiin iS one “not without difficulty:” ‘‘But the difficulties,” he said, “are created by people in high places, created by peopie in high places.’ When asked to explain, Mr Collins said: “We cannot allow men like Carson to dictate what is best for Ireland!” Mr Collins is returning to Dublin tonight.

Mr Griffiths and Mr Duggan are staying on in London. The latest news is that Earl Balfour is taking a hand in the London Irish negotiations. He will see Sir James Craig and Lord Londonderry on Friday.-

NAVAL ACTIVITY IN ULSTER LONDON, June 2.

Tnere is anxieey on the part of the Northern Government regarding the possibility of an invasion resulting. Therd is much aetivitiy at Lough Foyle', There tile destroyer “Warwick” has arrived:

Part of Lcmgh Foyle is in Free State territory, however, and the Free State authorities challenge the Ulster right of search there.

There are already 19 British battalions of troops in Ulster. These are in addition to artillery, which is now moving near the frontier.

BELFAST ATROCITIES. LONDON, June 2.

The shooting in Belfast has been marked by the most atrocious crimes. Many people have been killed in their houses, where the lactiohs jlursufed them. Some houses in which corpses lay were set on fire. The bodies were rescued just in time to prevent cremation. In some instances the firemen’s buses were actually played over themselves. Bayonet charges by the military dispelled the mobs, who joined in an appalling battle. The situation is still grave. Entire families are fleeing from Belfast in a panic.

The situtioii in Belfast continues one af the gravest character. The Opera House has been closed. the picture palaces aiid music halls are doing sd little business (owing to Sinn Fein threats to blow them up) that they now contemplate closing down immediately. There were numerous attempts at murder and burnings during the afternoon. There were 14 killed in the Midfield area within 24 hours.

The military are doing their best to isolate the Sinn Fein gunmen. The machine guns of the military were raking the streets; but- the Sinn Feiners were wed concealed. The machine gangers were tint expert and their machine guns finally jammed; Several civilians, some of whom were Roman Catholics, were killed and wounded, after a bond) was thrown at a tramcar. Tli loyalist mob got out of hand ai\d they burned several houses in the Catholic area; the gunmen were always able to escape. Redestriatls meanwhile went to work at the risk of their lives. Several were killed or wounded While taking no part in the conflict, including one boy goin“ to school and an old blind beggar, who was selling laces. In one case, a Sinn Feinef stopped a man who was driving a motor lony. He brutally murdered hint, and drove off with the lorry, throwing the body in the road way. During one day the Belfast Fine Brigade annvered 26 calls to the houses. There are many eases °f looting, including spirit shops. Some boys ran about offering bottles to any passerby, and hiding when the police came in view. CONFERENCE IN LONDONLONDON, June 2. There has been a prolonged Irish conference here, in which Mr Lloyd George, Mr Churchill, Lord Birkenhead and Sir H. Greenwood have been most active It has failed to find a solution for problems rising front the draft constitution for the Irish Free State. After a discussion with Mr Coilins and Mr Griffiths (Irish Ministers), and the other Irish delegates, the British Cabinet has come to a conclusion that the Irish constitution does not carry out the letter or spirit of the tren The British Cabinet has asked that the constitution shall be revised. It is stated the only hope :s that a conference of Irish leaders, to be held at Dublin in the week-end may lead to a decision bv them to revise the dra't constitution, so as to save Ireland iro m a renewal of warfare.

' it is understood the draft constitution in no way follows the Canadian precedent, as was promised, and that in some respects, it is a violation of the Canadian system

The British Government has warned the Irish Free State that any attempt to deviate from the terms of the London Treaty must wreck the treaty and that it will reverse the British Government’s policy. Mr Collins is stated to have ver l :«d he was personally desirous of carrying out the treaty, but lie pointed out everything must he done to reconcile the De Valera Party. The political correspondents of the London daily papers say that civil war in Ireland is not far off. various reports. LONDON, June 2. The Ulster Premier, Sir J. Craif, and liord Londonderry, have had a 'lengthy interview with Mr. l|oyd George.' It. is understood that Hie latter submitted to them the British Government’s views on the Collins-de Valera agreement. M,- de Valera, Sinn Fein leader, nas issued a statement, in which he says: “Churchill’s threats do not affect We deny the right of any English authority to prescribe wliat Irishmen should do, or shoud not- do!” The British Goernment has ordered the Manchester Regiment to proceed to Ireand, and it is to leave England on the 20th of the present month. There 'was considerable firing in the G rosvenor road district, Belfast- to-day, Grown forces xigorously replying to snipers. An 11-year old lad was killed. Several were injured by bombs thrown at tramems last, night. Tjie gunmen’s

firing is said to have been the most intensive that has yet occurred.

M.P. KILLED. LONDON, June 2. Mr John Rees, a member of thS3 House of Commons, fell off the Scotch express at Chesterfield, and died in a hospital. The Coroner’s verdict on Mr Rees, M.P., was one of accidental death, there being no evidence to show how he came to fall from the trail): ~ .

REPLY FROM IRELAND. LONDON, June 3. The Britisli Cabinet h.as received the Irish Provisional Government’s reply to six definite questions which it asked. The Cabinet regards the answers as sufficiently satisfactory to allow the negotiations to continue. Mr Arthur Griffiths (head of the Irish Provisional Government) went to Dunlin after submitting to .the British Cabinet the Free State’s answers to the . six questions. He returns next week to resume negotiations.

BRITISH PREPARATIONS. LONDON, June 3

It is significant that British military preparations are now proceeding in llelfast. Belfast now lias the biggest military garrison it ever had in its history. Infantry forces are arriving daily, and also field artillery, and siege guns, and airmen. ' Britisli troops have now replaced the Ulster “specials” on the Fermanagh border. , There are two huge armies face to face oti the Fermanagh border. Tile military commandant of Londonderry prohibits the export (if itioLii' spirit oil into County Donegal, by either road, rail, *ar sea. This is expected to paralyse the Republicans, who have a fleet of commandeered motor cars. *

IRISH ELECTIONS. LONDON, June 3

Lists of Coalition candidates, as a result from the Collins-De Valera agreement, are published. They include only four non-members of the present Dail Eireaun. " * , There are 124 candidate for 128 seats. The four Dublin Umvci'slt.V seats are not being contested by the Coalition. The Famous Commandant Breen was nominated bv both sides, making the nominal total 125, of whom sixty-six are pre-treaty, and fifty-nine antitreaty. Independent candidates, however, are likely to produce contests in a score of constituencies. The Farmers Union and Labour eacu have about twenty candidates ready.

ULSTER RAISES A NAVY. LONDON, June 1 The “Evening-News” states: Ulster has raised a pieturesqufe hiotof boat navy. It is commanded by a tWman. Her flagship is the yacht Pandora,” which she owns, lhe Ulster Fleet is in Lough Erne. It is patrolling the shores. The Ulster Navy is preventing any supplies from reaching some Sinn Feiners who are encamped at Pettigo. , A remarkable story is told of the saving of a police garrison at B“ 1|v * n a media Castle by the help of the lady owner of the yacht Pandora. She is Mrs Laver ton, who is w«H acquainted with Lough Erne.’ She insisted O.ILM* companving a relief expedition aboard the vessel, and at a critical moment she herself weighed anchor under fiveTl:e garrison were finally evacuated.

REPUBLICAN FORCE NEAR DERBY. LONDON, June 3. The “Evening News” says: “A determined siege of Londonderry seems imminent. Two camps containing several hundred Republicans, who are splendidly equipped, .have boon established north aiid smith of the city. The position is most critical.

BELFAST TERRORISM. LONDON, June 3. In Belfast several men called at the home of a Belfast doctor, and askedif ho were in. A servant named Susan SrfXlik, replied “No.” The then ixmred jtetrol ovei the gi , < set fire to her. She was sent to a hospital in a most serious condition. 1 A crowd attempted to rescue seven men arrested in Belfast for lootnig, and opened fire on the police, who renliod killing one man. “ On Friday Belfast had a quiet day. To-day there were only two attemp to murder, and one death. A Magistrate sentenced-a number of men, found with revolvers, to IS months* liurd labour. . -i The police found iin arsenal cmicealed in a sniper’s attic in Belfas ; tabling rifles, revolvers, grenades and thomsands of rounds of ammunition.