IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 June 1916, Page 5

IRELAND.

HOME RULE PROPOSALS. , . INFORMATION WANTED. London. June 28 In tlie House of Lords, Lord Middleton asked what progress had been made in Ireland. Lord Crewe deprecated the question SB of no publie interest. The Government desired further time to consider its Irish proposals and was confident their lordships would not - desire to hamper the great solution of a most difficult and delicate problem. He appealed to then) to wait until a comprehensive statement was possible. Lord Salisbury gave notice to ask the Government to publish Mr. Lloyd George's Irish proposals, also to disclose the report' of Lord Hardingge's committee, and thirdly the latest information regarding the spread of disaffection ia the three southern provinces. CASEMENT'S TRIAL ACCUSED'S STATEMENT. 1 London, June 28. Sir Roger Casement made a statement, not upon oath. Speaking with considerable emotion, he said that !ie wished to say a few words in reference to some mis-statements in the evidence. He declared that never at any time had he asked iHshmen to light for Germany, always claiming that Irishmen had no right to fight for any land but Ireland The statement that he got his owii people reduced to starvation rations because they did not join the Iri3h Brigade wag an abominable falsehood: Rations were reduced throughout Germany owing to the blockade. The suggestion that men were sent to punishment camps at his instigation because they did not join the brigade was unfounded. He had not sold himself to any man or Government. He did not allow any Government to use him. From the moment he landed in Germany to the moment he left it he never asked nor accepted a single penny for any purpose, but only the money of Irishmen. Money was offered him more than once, often liberally and unconditionally, but he rejected every suggestion of the kind. He left Germany poorer than he entered it. He hoped the jury, and e\en his most bitter enemy, comprehended that a man whom the newspapers called only "another Irish traitor" might be a gentleman. He wished to state categorically thai the rebellion was not made, directed, or inspired from Germany, and that not a penny of German gold financed it. He concluded: "I have touched on these personal matters because they .c----fleeted on my honor, and were calculate! to tarnish the cause I hold dear." Mr. Sullivan's motion to quash the indictment was refused. The Chief Justice said he had no hesitation in stat ing that adherence to the King's enemies outside the realm was treason at common law. Mr. Sullivan, in his address, said that no man heard Casement ask the Irishmen to fight for Germany, but lie had asked men to join an Irish Brigade when the war was over for the purpose of protecting the rights of the Irish people against tyranny. This was not treasonable. Of 52 men recruited not one fired a shot in Germany's interests or appeared in the German ranks. The hearing was adjourned. NATIONALISTS DEPRESSED. TURNING TO SINN FEINISM. Received June 29, 8 p.m. London, June 29. A correspondent in Dublin states that the political developments in London have depressed Nationalists. Many have deserted Mr. Redmond over the exclusion of the Ulster provinces. Most of the ardent ones are joining the Sinn Feiners. Sinn Feinism, he says, is extending in Dublin. The colors are freely worn. Large numbers of young men are wearing the colsrs, and parading the streets.