THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION,

A GOOD MOVE. LONDON, Deo 26 Dublin reports a meeting of Sinn Fein Clubs curried resolutions urging the convocation of a National Sinn Fein Congress to arrange peace with the free State.I , THE CURFEW. ' ■ LONDON, December 26. 1 Cardinal Logue abandoned midnight I mass in Armagh in view of the drastic | steps taken by authorities to prevent the violation of the curfew law. They intended to place a cordon round the clitircli at the curfew hour, which would have prevented the congregation leaving till six next morning. i POPE’S MESSAGE,

LONDON, December 26.

Tlic Pope’s ency-cylical letter says if into the sweet sanctuary the germ of dissolution lias penetrated fostered by war, it has caused increased immorality whence this germ propagates to all individuals. The Pope deplores the spread of morbid restlessness among the people of allages and that the modesty in women, and girls is trampled underfoot by the looseness in dressing underfoot, and dancing of unseemly dances with open insult to some, and misery to others, often rendered the more provoking by the all too frequent ostentation and impudence of those whom sudden giiiiis have enriched, but not improved.

IRISH HAPPENINGS. Received this day at 9.30 a.ui.l LONDON. December 27

Though there were no serious crimes against persons, lawlessness continued at Christmastide in Southern Ireland. A feature of the rebel activities- was attacks on mail carts. Hundreds of Christmas parcels were not delivered. A number of bridges around Atblone were" blown up and an attempt was made to wreck Kerry train by means of another burning train which was sent along the line. The flames, however died down before serious damage was done. A meeting of Sinn Fein Cluhs in Dublin Mansion House adopted a resolution in favour of convening a conference in the hope of securing a just, permanent peace. Sinn Feiners meet for the first conference on 7th January.

A DANCE TRAGEDY. (Received tin’s day at 9.30 a.ni.l LONDON, December 27. A shocking tragedy occurred at n Xmas dance in Lisburne, County Down. A patrol of four constables passing, were invited to join the,festivities. Constable Patterson thought he carefully emptied the magaeine of his rifle and placed the rifle in the porch. A guest seizing the weapon playfully pointed it amidst the dancers and pulled the trigger. A cartridge exploded and the bullet passed through two men badly wounding them. and killed a third. A number of women fainted, believing a rebel attack had commenced.

DF, VALERA. (Received this day at 9.30 a. ».) LONDON, December 27. De Valera secretly interviewed by an American correspondent reiterated his defiance of the/Free gtate Government. He said the "aim of the Republican Army was the preservation of Republics independence and integrity, and to assure' that the disestablishment of the Republic would not be presented to the people at the next election, us ‘‘au fait accompli.” “My Government has been established by the second Rail which is the sovereign authority of the nation. We will surrender that authority when the second Dnil is permitted to meet.