REPUBLICANS IN IRELAND
ALLEGED PLAN TO ATTACK TROOPS (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, September 1. An allegation that the Irish Republican Army is preparing for attacks against the British and American troops in Northern Ireland is made in a statement issued by the Belfast police. The statement says:“On Wednesday evening a special manifesto issued by the Army Council of the Irish Republican Army was circulated in Belfast. The terms of this document make it clear that this illegal organization has been preparing for attacks against members of the armed forces of the Crown, against the police and against the United States’ forces in Northern Ireland. The manifesto said:—“The Irish Republican Army cannot recognize the right of England or any Power to maintain forces in any part of Irish territory without the free consent of the Irish people. The Irish Republican Army reserves the right, therefore, to use whatever measures present themselves to clear this territory of such forces. It will undoubtedly be part of Britain’s tactics to provoke a conflict between the American troops in Northern Ireland and Irish guerilla forces. If in the event of a resumption of hostilities between Britain and the Irish Republic American troops are drawn into the conflict with Irish soldiers the responsibility must rest with those who presumed to use Northern Ireland as a military base without the free consent of the Irish people. FINDING OF ARMS “The distribution of this manifesto was followed by the timely discovery of two large accumulations of arms and explosives outside Belfast. The finding of these lethal weapons undoubtedly frustrated a plan which, if it had been carried through, would have resulted in grave disturbance and loss of life.” The Belfast police had earlier announced that they had made a further extensive raid and had taken possession of another and bigger arms dump. Large quantities of arms, ammunition and explosives in barrels were discovered. Investigations showed that this material was intended for distribution
throughout Northern Ireland and quantities had already been sent out. Thirteen men were detained as a result of yesterday’s raids. An agitation is being whipped up in Eire, Ulster and Irish quarters in London for the reprieve of Thomas Williams, the Irish Republican Army youth who was not reprieved when the Governor of Northern Ireland, the Duke of Abercorn, reprieved five other Irish Republican Army members. Dublin workers threaten a general strike if Williams is hanged. Nationalist members of Parliament in Ulster have cabled the King, Mr Churchill, the Home Secretary, Mr Herbert Morrison, the Catholic Archbishop of Westminster, Cardinal Arthur Hinsley, and the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr William Temple, urging that Williams be granted a reprieve. The death sentence still stands on Williams because he stated that firing on the police was his suggestion. The Governor of Northern Ireland rejected a final appeal for the reprieve of Thomas Williams and Williams was executed.
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Southland Times, Issue 24839, 3 September 1942, Page 5
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478REPUBLICANS IN IRELAND Southland Times, Issue 24839, 3 September 1942, Page 5
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