IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 May 1918, Page 5

IRELAND.

THE PROCLAMATION?!! DI'ASTiO MIiASUKES TAlOifc TO DEFEAT GERMAN PLOT. London, May 18. The Irish proclamation states: It has come to our knowledge that certain of our subjects in Ireland have 13&. teTed into treasonable communication with the Germans. Such treachery menaces Ireland's fair name ftnd military record, which is a source of intense pride to the country whose sons have distinguished themselves and fought with heroic valor, as thousands of them are now fighting in this war.

Drastic measures must be taken to put down this plot. It is the duty of all loyal subjects to aasist the Government to suppress this treasonable cpndpiiacy and defeat Germany's treacherous ; attempt to defame Irishmen's honor'for German ends.

We call all loyal subjects to assist in crushing the ponspiraey and to assist in securing the effective prosecution of the war. We shall take further steps to encourage voluntary enlistment, in the hope that Ireland's contribution will correspond with the contribution of other parts of the Empire without compulsion. t-Aub. isr.z: Cable Assoc.

GOVERNMENT'S FIRMNESS,

SINN FEINERS ARRESTED. HEADQUARTERS RAIDED. London, May 19. The Government's sudden display of firmness has caused a sensation in lrS» land, where the loyalists hate b««fi alarmed by the Sinn Fein raids on houses for arms and the seizure of fartns, Without molestation. I'll® Sinn Femora have long b6fiSt(!d that the Government was afraid to interfere with them. The story of the arrests shows ' that the atraiigemetitiS were Skilfully planned and carried out like clockwork. .The proclamation W(tß issued at midnight oh Friday, and the amsts began immediately. Most Were effected before dawn. Arrests were made in Dublin. Belfast, Kilkenny, Drogheda, Dimdalk, and many other places. Over a hundred have been arrested up to the present, most of whom were arrested during the Easter rebel* lion in 1910.

Military motor lorries conveyed the arrested men to Kingston, where they were embarked oh a Government transport, which remains in the harbor.

The Sinn Feiiers' Standing Committee met ill Dublin oh Friday night, and taost of the members were subsequently arrested. The police raided the headquarters of the organisation in Dublin and seized books and documents. When they departed the remaining Sinn Feiners hung out a placard inscribed "Business as usual."

De Valera was arrested at his home at Greystones, and the Countess de Marckievitz at Kathmines at one o'clock in the morning. The only resistance was at Skibbereen, where Ted ODriscofl and five others in his honse fought the police. O'Driscoll received a revolver bullet wound in the arm.

Patrick Hogan, head of the Irish Volunteers in Oaflhel, evaded arreat, esca«*| ing through a window and running aero® the grounds of an adjoining convent to the open country. The Cork correspondent of Lloyd'n News says it was stated there that prominent Sinn Feiners had declared that the republicans had a good treaty, with Germany, but the general public did not believe the latest statement. The latest reports show there was no excitement, either in the Sorth or south. Those arrested include Peter Htighea (chairman of the Dundalk Urban Council), George Kficols (coroner for Oalvroy), George Geraghty (chairman of the Roscommon Town Commissioners), Dr. Richard Hayea, Sean Milloy and Sean McEntee (members of the Sinn Fein Executive), and a number of captains of the Irish Volunteers in provincial centres.—' Press Association.

GENERAL SMUTS' VIEWS.

THE PROBLEM SOLUBLE. Loudon, May 18. General Smuts, at Glasgow, tliankiilg the university for conferring on him the degree of LL.D., said, referring to Ireland, they would not admit the right that anybody should be an exception to the common obligation of common duties to the common Empire. It was the Empire's aim to solve the long and dfeary Irish problem, and it Bhould prove soluble, as the bigger problem of South Africa had proved. They found Bome talking hysterically of a republic, others appalling to the enemy or talking of having wrongs to right at the peace conference. Ireland need not go to the peace conference to get her wrongs righted. He advised her to apply to the Empire's highest court of appeal, namely, the Imperial Conference, —Aus. N.Z. Cable Association.

SINN FEINERS IN AMERICA. DEMAND FOR AID TO IRELAND. SOMfi FIERY SPEECHES. Received Mac 21, 1 J.m. New York, May 10. A turbulent meeting of sympathisers of the Stan Feifters carried a resolution the President and Congress to vigorously aid Ireland in the fight for home rule; also resolutions declaring that President Wilson's declaration in favor of self-rule and self-determination should apply to Ireland, which was now held by England's military force alone. Engr land's rule over Ireland had been a complete failure. The Irish question was internal, and unless settled would be a permanent danger to the world's peace. The speakers included James TAriHn

wYEmmrmLY ontHßP^

PBO®LB NEVER KRO-GEBMAN Received May 20, 9&0 pjn. London, May it. : Further arrests include J. M"Gtntißfa», M.P. for Lonjfford, and Professor Itdtta* ghall. ' , Masked Sinn Feiners, iij motor-calif oni Saturday, raided the Cuke of Abeifefn's s residence, Baronscourt, cut the telfljfetae, placed the gatekeepers outer guard, And ! i searched the_ castle for arms, feriit un- " avaiiihgly. • • v Mr. E. Shortt (Chief Secretary) lUttes that the number of Irishmen and irishwomen m active co-operation wtatiie ■' Germftfia is very small, bat others ifiay; become involved. The Gwernmeat believe they can rely on Irish BUffitofy irrespective of creefl or polhace, ifl the measures taken. ' ' « The Freeman's Journal Bays that lbs- 1 sibly a few foolish men in Irelaitj Hay, bave entered into a conspiracy inTdifing German aid, but the Irish bave ttfrv&r ' been pro-Gefntan. The prorfaiSattion means that conscription will be ladttcbed under cover of tEe rerclationa at IStg : , ftllifed GtannUi jiWfc—^

NATIONALIST MEETING SHM- , press poMaparaßßi l

iRKhANjyS HONOR

treason most be ebprisbesd.

Received May 20, 8.30 pia. : \

London, May Some accounts place the total in Ireland as high as 500.

The newspapers are asking, What jrill, Dillon do? I

■ A Nationalist meeting has been *mw moned for Monday to discuss ibi eitosH tion.

Mr. W. O'Brien, ML? for Cork Csi®j stiggeat9 that the first effective answer ' Ireland can give the Government wouGl ' be the unanimous election of Griffith foif. East Cavan.

The Irish Times says this German plofc is not only a conspiracy against 13$ Allied cause, but against Ireland's honor. If it should succeed, with the help of even a handful of Irish traitors and fanatics, it would involve the country in deathless shame, wiping out the splendid record of Irish soldiers in this and former wars.

The Observer says that tha reality and seriousness of the German plot has been known for some ffine, and in view of tha present urgency of the whole war position this repeated treason must he put - down with an unflinching hand. Thei Observer strongly criticises the Nationalists' manifesto to America and theiijj failure to repudiate Sinn Feia»sm.-« Press Assoc- ■' '