THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 June 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

THE IRISH FREE STATE ELECTIONS. TWO TO ONE MAJORITY FOR TREATY. *UWIHALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCi-fION LONDON, June 20. The elections for the Irish Free State Parliament show an increasing majority in favour of the Treaty. The leader of the Pro-Treaty, Mr Arthur Griffiths has secured an outstanding personal success. He has topped the poll for County Cavan, being nearly 70000 votes above the second member.

LONDON, June 21. The Irish elections continue to furnish surprises and inculcate lessons. It is claimed that the most important of the lessons is that if Mr Michael Collins had not half surrendered to Mr de Valera, lie might have carried the entire country for the Treaty.

Thirty Republicans have been now elected. Nineteen of these were elected unopposed under the panel pact. In more than one case the panel Republican was defeated, and it is pointed oi t that wherever Irish opinion was leftunfettered. the Treatyites were preferred as against the Republicans in an overwhelming proportion of five to one. It is even agreed that Mr de Valera only saved his seat through the panel. Great surprise has been expressed at a heavy Labour vote, which would certainly have been greater if more Labour candidates had offered.

‘.Liam Mellowes. reputed a principal “wire puller” for the rebels, was at the bottom of the poll at Galway. Mr Erskine Childers was defeated for Kildare in the Wicklow division. Mr Desmond Fitzgerald, Director of Publicity for T)ai' Eircann, and a Treaty supporter, has been elected for Dublin County.

Three Republicans have lieen returned for Mayo East and Sligo County. They polled two-thirds of the votes cast tliere.

Couiit O’Byrne, who has been the Sinn Fein Envoy to th 0 Vatican has cut a ridiculous figure against the Treaty ito at Tipperary, securing only a few hundred votes.

The latest returns show that the Treatyites, including the Labourites nnd Independents, have 76 seats, and 'Republicans 30. TiONOON, June 21. The Irish electiens are a defeat for the Republicans. The Treaty Party is rejoicing over its ero-'t victory.

Labourite ntul Independent candidates headed the poll by a big majority in several constituencies.

Ah' .tames tTKbiiisolt, a Republican has Ik*oii defeated for Waterfind, where C’tlmt Briigha, one of the leading Tiepufi; licans, Ims been elected. Afr Gavin Duffy has been elected for South Dublin. The well-known blacksmith. Tom Alekeown has been elected for Longford He was just saved from being sßut at the time of the truce.

Air Darrell Figgis, who is for the Treaty headed the Dublin County poll. All- Gavin Duffy is pro-Treaty. The present position is: —Pro-Treaty 47; Anti-Treaty 29; Pro-Treaty Labour 10; Pro-Treaty Independent 12. Thirty one results remain to come. It is announced the count will be completed on Thursday.

Air Darrell Figgis polled 15,074 or more than double the quota. Mr Shannon, a Labourite. topped the poll in Louth with 13,000.

Mr DaVin, a Labourite, is elected for Offnlv with 15,167.

ULSTER (LAOIS S T W FEINERS LONDON. June 20.

The Ulster Government is now interning all recently rounded Up Silltt Keiners aboard a ship in Belfast Lough,