IRISH AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 May 1923, Page 3

IRISH AFFAIRS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. TO END ARMED RESISTANCE. LONDON, May 9. The Australasian Press Association’s special correspondent at Dublin reports that the Executive of the Neutral Irish Republican. Army Members’ Association have issued a manifesto calling Upon the Free State Government to order an immediate cessation of all executions, arrests, and provocative military activity. The Association states that it is inspired to make this appeal liy the fact that Da Valera’s suspensions of hostilities has created a better feeling throughout the country, and the intense desire of the whole people

is for peace. This Association includes a large v number of men who fought against the British in Ireland, and it exerts a good 'deal of influence throughout the Free State.

AN ANGRY PROTEST

LONDON, May 7. - Mr Walsh, the Free State Postmas-ter-General has made an angry protest against British tobacco manufactories starting factories in Ireland in order to evade the customs harrier. He describes this as an intensive lorm of the. foreign exploitation which has been going on for 50 years. “We succeeded in removing the foreigner politically Jio said, “but if foreigers come to * grab the fruits of our labours, we have only exchanged one form of slavery for another. Wo don’t want to make » nation of foreign masters and native slaves.” FREE STATE DEMOBILISATION. NEW COMMISSIONER APPOINTED. (Received this day at 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, May 9. The Australian special correspondent in Dublin says that the question of demobilisation of the Free State Army is causing grave concern among British ex-servicemen in freland. Sixty |or cent of the National Army fought for the Empire during the Great War, and jt is reported that the Free State Go- • vernment proposes to demobilise exuct- . |y that proportion at the earliest moment. It is rumoured that the ex-sol-diers will be. the first to go. The appointment of General Murphy to the Chief Comniissionership of the Dublin police, gives colour to the rumour. Mr Murphy is a young man, 31 years old, and was a Colonel in the ■ British Army, winning the D. 5.0., and M.C. in the field. He was the only veal soldier ill the higher command <-f the Free State Army, and while the Army Council could riot afford to do .without him during the fighting, at the same time he was a constant thorn in its side. LONDON, May 9 Murphy’s appointment to the ormi- ' mental plot is general regarded as a clever move to get rid of him. The Gaelic League Party is now m supreme command of the nrmq. Its ideals as expressed repeatedly by Mueahy arc hardly the ideals of the British Army and the ex-British soldiers are hardly the men to carry them out.