The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1920. TERRORISM IN IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1920, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, APRIL 8, 1920. TERRORISM IN IRELAND.

Writing to the Spectator in January last, op the subject of the Government's Home Rule Bill (which he considered all wise Irishmen could accept), Mr. Edward Thompson, of Omagh, an ex-M.P., said: "1 think, notwithstanding all the sorrows of Ireland and the terrible happenings just now afflicting our dear land, the sun is rising and will soon shine resplendent throughout the land, if only our statesmen are determined and resourceful." From this alluring .vision to the campaign of terrorism which is in full violence to-day, is but a short step as time goes, yet the contrast is so remarkable that, it defies all rational explanation. Unfortunately, the position is becoming worse instead of better, murders in cold blood being frequent, and shocking outrages are of daily occurrence. Possibly' this may in some measure be due to the vacillating policy of the Government, at one time inordinately plaeative, and at another rigorously repressive. The most puzzling phase of the situation is that the campaign of terrorism is reaching its height just when the British Government is making an honest endeavor to settle the Irish question by granting Home Rule on more generous lines than in any previous measure. To those who are engaged in the present campaign there is evidently only one object in view —cutting adrift from Britain and forming a Republic. In a recent letter to the Mayor of Dublin the British Premier pointed out that Ireland is menaced by a formidable organisation that is seeking to terrorise public officials, and he expressed the belief that the policy of violenec on which Sinn Fein depended would never lead to union, and certainly could never achieve its. avowed object. At the same time he considered that the Government's imperative duty was to leave no stone unturned to lay hands on the terrorists, even if at times compelled to dislocate in some degree the normal life of the community. According to a cabled press message late in March, details regarding the Irish outrages show that the murderers usually work in gangs, ten crack shots being chosen to pick off victims, while others actas outposts. It was stated that the Government had secured evidence of. almost incredible sums paid to some murder gangs, and that high Government officials no longer dare leave Dublin Castle to visit their own families. The Editor of the Observer (Mr. J. L. Garvin), who has devoted all. his talent and influence to bring about an acceptable solution of the Ir'»h problem, declares that the atrocities were almost surpassing those of the Bolsheviks, and were awakening a new temper in Ulster, threatening to rend Ireland asun-

tier for ever. The murders, armed attacks on police barracks, incendiarism, raids for arms and cattle, robberies and other criminal acts that have taken place for a considerable ,-time past speak for themselves. Mr. Garvin's views are mentioned chiefly for the reason that he points to Bolshevik tactics, and it may be reasonably inferred that the advocates of independence and an Irish Republic have been influenced by Bolshevik methods and encouraged by Bolslievik example. - There are twi sentences which may well be quoted from Sergeant Sullivan'•* spirited denunciation of Irish crime which was published lately in the form of a reply to Bishop Fogarty's Sinn Fein letter: "There is no badge of slavery so degrading as submission to crime. There is no cowardice so contemptible as that which seeks to placate criminals." That is the text for a true Government Of Ireland. Whatever may be the grievances which Sinn Fein requires to be remedied, nothing can justify or even palliate the terrible crimes and outrages that are rampant, in Ireland. A policy of that nature can, states Mr. Lloyd George, only condemn that unhappy country to . long continuance of the terrorism and distress dominating it to-day, for the Government cannot be deflected from what it. believes is the only course consistent with reason and common sense. It is unthinkable that the preponderance of public opinion in Ireland can be on the side of ruthless assassins, terrorists, and incendiaries. The Sinn Fein movement has been secretly and deliberately fed from German sources. It openly aims at forming a Republic, and the nature of this Republic can be estimated by the actions of its votaries. Day by | day the crimes committed are suoh. as would arouse any Government to adopt desperate counter incisures, and the fact that so little has been done to exorcise the °vil has emboldened the criminals to greater daring and intimidation. All the. right-minded and unbiased people of the Empire would gladly welcome a solution of the Irish problem, just as they must all recognise that a Republic there is absolutely impossible. The one outstanding fact to-day is that the irreconcilables are forcing the British Government to proceed to * :-

treme measures instead of effeotipg a peaceful compromise that would pave the way to a better understanding. Law, order, and personal security must be upheld at all cost. The British Government" has tackled successfully greater defiance than that which is met with by a section of the people in Ireland. Justice demands that no stone should be left unturned to lay hands on the desperadoes and terrorists who, by their policy of violence, are impeding a settlement of longstanding troubles. Mr. '' George is sanguine of ultimate success in maintaining the Union and solving the problem. It is to be hoped there will be no more vacillation, but that a just and firm stand will be made in the interest of the whole of the peiy< .■ of Ireland.