Second Edition Great Britain

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 47, 30 May 1916, Page 6

Second Edition Great Britain

THE IRISH QUESTION. FURTHER EVIDENCE AT THE INQUIRY. (Received 1.20 a.m.) London, May 29. At the lush Commission of inquiry, Sir John, Ross ex-Chief Commissioner of the Dublin police, condemned the lapsing of the Arms Act, 1916, as an extraorinary step and the forerunner of the trouble). It was.like bringing a candle into a powder magazine. Another weak proceeding was the action with the Dublin strikers in 1913, when the Government acceded to the Corporation's demand for an inquiry into the action of the police against the rioters. "Mr Ross submitted a minute showing the Government that as soon as drilling in the disaffected sections began, 'ho made repeated requests for instructions to take' action before the movement became stronger. He" was merely told to keep the men under observation. Witness considered that the landings of arms at Larne and Howth were different.' The former was done secretly, and' the Government's authority was not dejied openly. The •mob at Howth .overpowered the police and defied authority. Harrell's suspension for his taction at Howth was'' extraordinarily grave. He was an efficient, impartial, and able servant, and witness resigned as a protest. He added that Harwell's suspension destroyed the civil servants' confidence in their superiors, believing that they were., at the mercy of politicians who betray them when it suits their purpose. Also, the disaffecteds knew they could arm and manoeuvre and preach sedition unimpeded amid the distraction due to the war. Harrell's removal was the essentkl cause of the revolution. Harrel gave evidence attributing the rebellion to ; four causes: The existence of an anti-British party, repeal of the Peace Preservation Act, failure to enforce tlie/la}y ; during Larkin's movement, and.the,Howth affair. Sir Mattriee O'Connell said Kerry had swarmed with German agents. Lody was arrested in a Killarney hotel at which there wa,s. a -German manager, and where, also/ '.unfhjrstudie's were employed as waiters until April, 1916. IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. INCOME TAX PROPOSALS. (Received 12.30 p.m.) . London, May 29. The House of Commons is discussing the Consolidated Fund Bill. Members criticised the financing of short tune Mis, ariff argeji a. permanent loan. Mr B^5MFy" r 'iel€ifedi "there was a feeling in the city that the limit of safety as regards the issue of treasury bills was almost reached. Mr McKenna said the Government policy could well be defended, but it was impossible under the rules of debate. The Bill was reported unamended.

Mr McKenna, in moving an additional income-tax of 2s on American securities, said the proposal was a novel vone, but it was necessary to provide against an adverse balance of trade with America and the export of gold. The loans erica in the export of gold. The loans laised in America proved insufficient, but the purchpse of American securties operated with complete success, enabling us to pay our way and preserve a substantial balance to the United States for the payment of our liabilities. British owners generally come forward patriotically, but in recent weeks the flow had dwindled to a trickle. Some holders needed a spur to remind them of their duty to the country. The flow had already greatly increased, but it 2s proved an insufficient spur, he would ask the'House to raise the tax even to 20s. Sir Edward Carson asked: Why not act now? Mr McKenna said • there were great difficulties. / , ■ Mr Banbury declared that the proposal was grossly unfair. The Government should not single out particular investments. We are returning to -the days of Isaac of York, he said. They had a bad precedent for tbe use of the income., tax as a penal instrument.

Mr William Rutherford said the proposal was sheer robbery. It was dishonest and mean to let the Government introduce a Bill employing simple compulsion.

LATEST MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. (Received 1.50 p.m.) London, May '29. The average of interned prisoners at Alexandra Palace is over three them* sand, and the official report shows one death during the year. Newspapers contrast this state of affairs with those ruling at Wittenberg. There was a great rush of women applicants for the May harvest at the beginning of the week. In a fortnight, ten thousand applied to the National Land League for work. School teachers at Girton and Newn* ham Colleges and the students are assisting the authorities, avlio placed hundreds of women for six months at 13s 6d week. Mr Henderson received a Navy League deputation urging the teaching of naval history in- secondary schools. | Lord Bryee, presiding at a lecture at'Union College, said a spirit of ag : grcssion did not prevail Liberal Germany prior to 1864. He hoped the defeat of Germany Mould mean a repudiation of the policy of aggression,

revealing a higher and nobler Germany. Turkey must be divested of all territory except that inhabited by Mussulmans.