IRISH AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 30 May 1923, Page 2

IRISH AFFAIRS.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. PE VALERA’S PROCLAMATION. LONDON, May 28. Mr Dc Valera has issued a proclamation to the so-called “Soldiers of Liberty.” Mr Do Valera signifies the end of the civil war. He adds: “Military success must lie allowed to rest with those who have destroyed the Republic. Other means must he found to safeguard the nation’s interests. Do not allow this sorrow to overwhelm you. You have saved the nation’s honour, and have expedited tho law of independence. Your laving down your arms is an act of patriotism.” IRISH LAND REFORM. LONDON, May 28. A Bill has been introduced in the Da it Kircann to complete the Irish land purchase scheme, and also tho establishment of peasant proprietorship in the Free State. The Bill deals with 70,000 peasants who have not yet purchased their holdings, their rent-roll being about £1,000,000 per annum. The landlords are given a. fifteen years’ pnurehase, in 4’ per cent, bonds, the Free State Government contributing 10 per cent, to the purchase money The scheme will cost the Free State Government £25,000,000. When it is completed, agricultural tenants and landlords will be abolished in .Southern Ireland, and only owners of l'nd in foe simple will remain.

RECETTITINO STOPPED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) LONDON. May 29. Another order, signed “Frank Aicken. Chief of Staff,” declared: “We will keep our arms until we sec a honourable way of reaching our objective without arms.” Mr Muleaby announced in the Free State Parliament that recruiting for tne army lias stopped. LOAN FOR, IRELAND. fßeceived this day at 9.25 a.m.) ■LONDON, May 29. General Muleaby, speaking in Dublin. announced that the Government had decided to raise a loan of £25,000000 internally. They must not give outsiders an opportunity of lending money and drawing the interest. An internal loan would make" Ireland a creditor instead of a debtor nation. Mr Muleaby added that Do Valera’s “cease fighting” order was the Council’s perfection and might have zc-on adopted before when the Republicans saw that they were beaten. Mr Wiggins said that it was open to the opponents of the Government to form a political party in order to press their claims. If they did so, the country would soon forget the past year's events.

GONE AS FAB AS POOSSIBLE. THE PRESTIGE OE RUSSIA. (Received this dav at 10.45 a.in.) PAR r, May 29. M. Radok, interviewed by the “Milton’s” Berlin corespondent said:-—“Wo have gone as far us possible in concessions to England. We have foregone our prestige. For, with for a country and people like ours there is none. We leave our prestige to the British Foreign Office, which is largely composedl of men who are inveigling Poland to fight us, and their policy is to employ the Polish armies to turn us hack from the East. France would not favour the plan, for when we have swept over Poland and Germany, we would be in the neighbourhood of the French armies, and such proximity might lend to unpleasant friction.”