IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3542, 2 August 1920, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

MILITARY PARTY AMBUSHED. ATTACKERS BEATEN OFF. Received 9.10. LONDON. August 1. Thirty men ambushed a military motor lorry near Cork. The lorry was carrying mails, and was guarded by nine soldiers, equipped with a Lewis gun. The attackers threw a bomb into the lorry, seriously wounding five soldiers; but were beaten off after the Lewis gun had fired a thousand rounds. FRICTION IN THE COMMONS.

Received. 10.0. LONDON, August. 1. Various newspapers indicate friction in the Cabinet amounting to a Unionist revolt against the Premier over the Irish and Russia questions, on which the disagreement centres. There is a feeling among Unionists that Mr. Lloyd George is temporising with Sinn Feinism, instead of annihilating it. Both the Libera' Pea««e Party and the Unionists War P*rty are angry over the Russian policy, and the Premier is accused of facing both Way? on the Polish difficulty, while Mr Churchill, in a recent, newspaper article., went so far as to suggest that Germany might be asked, to repel the Bolshevik advance. Beneath*"it all is a resentment that in a Cabinet in which the Unionists are dominant, they ought to have the predominant, share in shaping the policy, instead of Mr Lloyd George's dictatorship.

Writing to Mr Kings'!ey Wood. Mr Lloyd George says there never was a time when a greater need of unity and order ,Ivere required to secure the solution of urgent problems at Home and abroad.

Lord Waimer, addressing Aldershot Unionists, sa : d the Conservatives were disappointed in the Tacit of firm principles on the part of their leaders. If Mr Bonar Law could not lead, he should make way for some one else. He believed Sir Edward Carson was a personality in the country, which stood in the greatest need ,af present. LEGISLATIVE ACTION. Received 1G.50 a.m. LONBON, Aug. I. In the House of Commons Mr Bonar Law announced that a Bill would shortly be introduced dealing with" disorders in Ireland Mr Lloyd George received a very large deputation of Lords and Commoners on the subject of Ireland. The

principal spokesman, the Duke of Northumberland, quoted evidence in support of the contention that Sinn Fein was closely allied with Bolshevist activity, which aimed at the destruction of the British Empire as an essential step to bring about the dictatorship of proletariat. He urged the Government not to pursue a policy of drift.

Sir E<iwara Carson stressed the exof a world-wide conspiracy, which only indirectly concerned itself with Home Rule in Ireland. No difference was drawn in the conspirators' propaganda between the questions of Ireland. Egypt, and India, to which they are applying their attention because all were regarded as Ifceys of Emipre. It was required that the Government should unmask the disguised objects of Sinn Peinism for the sake of the country an! of the Empire.

Mr Lloyd eGorge, replying, said the Government did not need convincing regarding the impossibility of granting an Independent Irish Republic. He pointed out that although" there was undoubtedly Bolshevik support behind Sinn Peinism, it would be a mistake to conclude that it was purely a Bolshevik conspiracy. The Irish feud was periodical, but the present outbreak was the worst he remembered. It was necessary to strengthen the forces in Ireland, and thousands of officers and men were required to put down lawlessness. He would like to see the same assistance by way of recruitment for that purpose as was given during the war. The Premier added that if the British Empire surrendered control over Ireland, it would be equivalent to committing „ suicide. He invited the deputation to await the introduction of the above-mention-ed legislation, which' would be most drastic. Whatever happened, Ireland could not be allowed to leave the Empire. He denied the report that armed guards were no longer provided for Government munitions sent by railways, and declared that railwaymen refusing to convey military goods for the troops and police would continue to be instantly dismissed.