IRELAND

Taranaki Daily News, 10 May 1916, Page 5

IRELAND

STATEf(|)INT BY MR. ASQUITH. GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS IMPLICATED. DEALING WITH THE RANK AND FILE. London, May 8. In the House of Commons, Mr. Asquitli said that steps were being taken to ascertain what Government officials were implicated in the Irish outbreak. The Government was considering the form of tribunal to try the rank and file of the rebels. Mr. Redmond asked whether Mr. Asquitli was aware that the continuance of executions was causing rapidlyincreasing bitterness and exasperation amongst a large section of the population who bad not the slightest sympathy with the insurrection, and whether, following General Botha's precedent in South Africa, he would immediately stop the executions. Mr. Asquitli replied that Mr. Redmond had from the Irst urged on the Government, and his arguments had fallen on willing ears, the importance of clemency to the rank and file. General Maxwell had been in direct personal communication with the Cabinet, and the latter had great confidence that lie would exercise his discretion regarding the death penalty, which would be used as sparingly as possible, and' only in cases of those guilty in the first degree. No one was more anxious than General Maxwell and himself that the eases should be confined to the narrowest limits and eeas'> tit the earliest possible moment.

AN EXCITED MEMBER. QUESTION'S TO THE PRIME MINISTER. Received May 9, 5,! i p.m. London, May 8. After Mr. Asquith's statement, Colonel Lynch inquired whether the shootings had been ordered in cold blood, after complete suppression of the rising. Mr. Ginncll asked whether, before further executions, the House would have an. opportunity of discussing the matter. Mr. "Asquitli declined to give such an undertaking, whereupon Mr. Ginnell shouted excitedly, "Murder! Murder!" "TWO WEAK MEN." A NORTHCLIFFE PRESS OPINION. Received May 9, !>.5 p.m. i London, May A. The Times' Dublin correspondent states that the nice things that Mr. Asquitli and Mr. Redmond said about Mr. Birreil are unappreciated in Dublin, as no Irishman even supposed that .he would be more than mildly interested in Ireland. The correspondent concludes: "If Mr. Birreil hated trouble, Lord Aberdeen was one of those men who create trouble by trying to avoid it. " Nothing was ever done, everything was postponed, and popularity was sought by the easiest and most obvious ■ means. Jobbery flourished in Ireland, as it lias done ever since the days of the Act of Union. The history of the lact ten years is a tragedy of two weak men."

MORE EXECUTIONS. DEATH OF A ipRIEST. Received May 9, 10 p.m. London, May !>. jur rehels—Cornelius Colbert, Edmund Kent, Michael Mallon, and J. Heuston—who Were sentenced to death, were executed on Monday. Kent was one of the signatories to the Sinn Fein proclamation, and was an official of theDublin Corporation. Twenty-two more rebels were sentenced to various terms of penal servitude. Father Mathers, president of the Catholic University School in Dublin, has died from gunshot wounds which he received while standing at his door, during the rebellion. A VOTE OF CENSURE. GAGGING THE PRESS. Received May 10, 12.30 a.m. London, May 9. Lord Lorebiirn, in the House of Lords, will move a motion of censure on the Government's pre-rehellion policy. A motion in the House of Commons to modify the Order-im-Council prohibiting the press to refer to Cabinet proceedings, was negatived without a division. Mr. Roch demanded the prosecution of Ministers themselves for divulging Cabinet proceedings, instancing lord Curzon's and Mr. Lloyd. George's recent speeches.

THE FATE OF CASEMENT. VATICAN WILL NOT INTERFERE. Received May 10, 1.45 a.m. Rome, May 9. The Vatican has been overwhelmed with American appeals to save Sir Roger Casement, but is unwilling to interfere. THE CHIEF SECRETARYSHIP. Received May 10, 12.30 a.m. London, May 9. The Daily Mail says that Mr. Lewis Harcourt has declined the Chief Secretaryship of Ireland, as his health is unequal to the strain.