THE IRISH SITUATION

Taihape Daily Times, 21 May 1918, Page 5

THE IRISH SITUATION

500 ARRESTS REPORTED LONDON, May 19, Some accounts pLace the total arrests in Ireland as high as 500. Newspapers are asking: What will Mr Dillon do. A Nationalist meeting has been summoned for Monday to discuss the situation. Mr. O'Brien, M.P., suggests that the first effective answer Ireland can give the Government would be the unanimous election of Mr Griffith for East Cavan :v ''• ( IRISH PRESS OPINIONS. A:l ■ . 7- * ; LONDON. May 30, The "Irish Times" says: This German plot is ntf only a conspiracy against the Allied cause, but against Ireland's honour. If it should succeed with the help of even a handful of Irish traitors an dfanatics, it would involve the country in deathless shame, and the wiping out of the splendid record of Irish soldiers in this and former wars. The. "Observer" says: The reality and scfTousness of the German plot j have been known for some time, In view of the present urgency of the whole war position, this repeated treason must be put down with an unflinching hand. The /'Observer" strongly criticises the , Nationalists manifesto to America. The "Freeman's Journal," says:; Possibly a few foolish men in Ireland i may have entered a conspiracy in- ! voicing German aid. but the Irish have never been pro-German. The proclamation means that conscription is to be launched under cover of the revelations of the alleged German plot. GOVERNMENT RELIES ON PEOPLE'S LOYALTY". Mr. Shortt states that the number of Irishmen and Irishwomen in active co-operation with Germany is very small, but others may become involved The Government believes it can rely on Irish support, irrespective of c,reed or politics, in .the measures taken,. * Further, arrests .include MeGuiness MP., and Professor Monaghan, ,»,,. Masked Sinn Fciucrs, in motor cars! on Saturday, raided the Duke of Abercorn.'s residence "Baronscourt," cut the telephone, placed ,the gate-keepers under, guard, and searched the castle for arms unavailingly

Count Plunkett was arrested in Dublin, where the streets were crowded: The night passed quietly, groups discussing the arrests for two hours. HOW THE ARRESTS WERE MADE NOTHING TO DO WITH CONSCRIPTION. INCRIMINATING DOCUMENTS INFORMATION FROM A FRIENDLi" COUNTRY. Received 8.45 a.m. LONDON, May 18. The Daily Chronicle's Dublin correspondent says the secret was well kept, and the arrests came as a surprise to the affected persons, also to everyone outside Dublin Castle. The printer of the proclamation only was entrusted with the headings and the formal parts. Afterwards typewritten copies of the effective parts were pasted in the blank spaces. Dublin residents' first intimation of anything unusual was a continuous barking" of dogs several hours after midnight, while motor lorries with prisoners driving in the streets to Kingston. Early risers found a large number cf soldiers guarding the jetty, and learned that Sinn Feiners were aboard the warship. The arrests have nothing to do with the anti-conscription campaign or the Sine Fein organisation, or seditious speeches, and some prisoners are not Sinn Feiners. Every arrest was solely based on suspicion of treacherous communication with the enemy. It is rumoured incriminating documents were found on a man captured in a collapsible boat, also on another captured off Kerry. The correspondent says: I believe something more definite has found its way to the British Government from a friendly country, which exposed the earlier plots against the Allies always in the nick of time. I firmly helieve prisoners will not be courtmartialled or brought to public trial. The Government will scrupulously abstain from giving any excuse for disorders amongst the Irish public. Irish newspapers unitedly deny any pro-German-ism in Ireland, therefore the Government must recognise the necessity c; justifying the arrests by the production of satisfactory evidence that t-v arrests are a war measure, and co"" imply the revival of clauses of the Coercion Act. But the war measures must be well grounded. The Government must not lose time in proving to Ireland and the whole world that the plot is genuine. It is unfortunate

that .the belated and grudging withdrawal of conscription, which the proclamation announces, is annulled for the moment by the sensational arrests and the discovery of a plot. IRISH INSURRECTION AND GERMAN OFFENSIVE. TO TAKE PLACE SIMULTANEOUSLY. Received 10,20 a.m. LONDON, May 20 The Daily Mail understands the Government has conclusive evidence of the Irish conspiracy with the Germans who clearly hoped for a great insurrection to sychronise with the suprememoment of a gigantic western offensive