IN IRELAND.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 September 1918, Page 3

IN IRELAND.

AN IMPROVEMENT NOTED, ! SINN FEIN PLOTTING TROUBLE LONDON September 23. The Times' Irish. correspondent writes: Although arrests, searches and boycotts continue, the condition of Ireland has immeasurably improved under Sir John French's -measures. The Sinn Fein is dropping the policy of organised lawlessness and organising for the next general election, particularly canvassing women. Their campaign is supported by ample funds including the anti-conscription fund of a quarter of a million. It is intended to contest every Nationalist ■ seat. The Nationalists' party prospects .are most gloomy. Their organisation has gone to pieces and they have no election funds, American subscriptions have entirely ceased. The majority in Ireland, fearing conscription will vote Sinn Fein, which party is likely to gain fifty seats. The Nationalists are unlikely to retain more than twen-ty-fire and some predict only eleven After the election the Sinn Fciners propose to hold out till after the peace conference, meanwhile adopting a policy of .nationaJl sabotage. The members elected will not go to Westminister, but will attempt to form an Irish Parliament, shrinking from violent conflict with the forces of the Crown, but dislocating the machinery of the law in every possible way. Overtures with Labour suggest they are meditating the weapon of a general strike, and will take every means to make Ireland ungovernable by the Birtish Parliament, which will be glad to get rid of the Irish difficulty at any price.