IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 April 1920, Page 4

IRELAND.

A SERIOUS OUTLOOK. COLLAPSE OF CONTROL. WIDESPREAD TERRORISM. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, April 27. In the House of Commons, Lord Robert Cecil drew attention to the state of Ireland. The position was more serious than at any time during the last hundred years. Sixteen murders had been committed in the last three weeks and they now averaged one per day. This was an absolute collapse of the system of civilisation guaranteeing the lives of citizens. He criticised the withdrawal of the police from country districts, and attributed to this the subsequent lawlessness. There was no coordination between tlie soldiers and police. If convictions were nut obtainable the law should be altered with tht view of securing fairness to all parties If neceswy prisoners should be brought to England for trial, and soldiers should be used to protect the police. Unless the Government proved its capacity to govern wo should drift through anarchy and humiliation to an Irish Republic. Mr. P.onar Law regretted the iuopportuneness of the present debate and pointed out that every weapon of the law in Ireland had been used as far as possible. Trials in England would be useless unless evidence could be secured from Ireland. Such trials would ba regarded by Irishmen as worse than courts-martial. As regards arrests without trial, he said the system of terrorism was so widespread that it was impossible to get evidence, although in many cases the offenders were known. Tn such circumstances he defied anyone to say that such persons should be allowed continued liberty to conspire further against their fellow countrymen. As regards hunger-strikers, the Government \vk prepared to do anything to prevent them becoming martyrs so long »is they were unable to carry on the offences under suspicion of which they were arrested. Mr. Tionar Law paid the highest tribute to Lord French, who hrtd the Gov-, ernmcnt's full confidence. —Imperial Ser- 1 vice.