FREE STATE BILL.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 November 1922, Page 2

FREE STATE BILL.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.

LONDON,* November 28. The House of Commons agreed to the report stage of the financial resolutions of the Free State and the consequential provisions in the Bill. The House then went into committee on the tion Bill. ' In the House of Lords, Lord LansDownc asked what was being done with regard to compensation for Britishers in Southern Preland. The Unionists there, lie said, wanted to know where they stood, and whether Mr Cosgrave could “deliver theo goods.” He (Lansdowne) did not desire to impute want of good faith in Air Cosgrave, but lie might find it out of his power to do what the British Government expected him to do. He warned the Government not to he too sanguine. Lord Birkenhead said it was impos- -—■** sible to judge the result of what all admitted to’lie a bold, and even a ' dangerous experiment in the comparatively short time which had elapsed from the signing of the Treaty, hut there were many signs of hope. It was not most helpful publicly to express doubt whether Air Cosgrave would he able to carry out what he had unI dertaken. TRIBUTE TO COSGRAVE. LONDON, November 28. In the House of Lords, Lord Birkenhead paid a tribute of bis high admiration due to Air Cosgrave and liis colleagues in the Irish Government for the risks they are running. There would he no peace, he said, in Ireland until the rebels were suppressed -with a strong hand. If, by reason of depleted finances, the Irish Free State were unable to meet the compensation obligations, Britain must act as guarantor. Lord Devonshire replied that it was Britain’s liouiiden duty to see full justice done to those who suffered in the terrible struggle of the last few years, The Commission’s work on compensation would he carried on without interruption. FREE STATE ACTION.

AIR COSGROVE’S FTRAI STAND. LONDON. Nov 29. Alderman Charles Afiuphy, one of the prominent De Valeraites was arrested in Dublin. Mr Cosgrove in the— _ provisional Parliament; replying to Mr On vail Duffy’s atta-x* regarding Childers. said the military courts were secret for the purpose rf saving the public pain. Government made no deference in this case because defence was unnecessary. Every Irregular was temporarily mad. The gang is actuallv plotting now to arrest members of that House. The effect of the recent executions was that stolen propelty was being restored, debtors were paying debts’, and contraband arms were being flung into the Liftey. Air Cosgrove’s declaration that persons convicted of robin-.’ were going to he executed was loutny cheered. Free Staters seized land mines loaded with shells and ot'.nr arms in Count Plunket’s Dublin House