NEW DIFFICULTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 June 1920, Page 5

NEW DIFFICULTY.

IRISH LABOR DEMANDS.

GOVERNMENT'S FIRM STAND. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.— Copyright, Received June 20, 5.5 p.m. London, June 19. The Government has informed the British and Irish railway-men's deputation that it will take drastic action in t.ie event of further refusals to c o° troops and munitions. Strikers will bo, summarily dismissed, and if a general railway strike occurs the Government will run the trains it requires with the military, and shut down the remainder. The Irish delegates frankly told the Ministers that in that case certain sections of Irishmen would deliberately destroy tracks and wreck trains, adding that the inevitable paralysis of Irish industries would result in civil war. The railwaymen met. the Premier and Ministers. Mr. J. H. Thomas, M.P. (general secretary of the National Union of Railwaymen) subsequently stated that the railwaymen proposed that the Government should not send further troops and munitions to Ireland, and if the Goveminent agreed the railwaymen wouid appeal to all sections of the Irish peopla to suppress crime and violence, and the British and Irish trade union congresses would use the period of truce to seek a solution of the various problems. They would afeo discuss with the Government means of producing a better atmosphere in Ireland in the hope of settling the Irish problem. The Government replied, refusing to discontinue the despatch of troops and munitions, but it would do its utmost to prevent provocation. It was willing to meet representatives of all Irish sections, including Sinn Fein, but it could go no further than that. Mr. Thomas added that the question of the dock strikers in Dublin remained unsettled. He desired, in order to prevent a misunderstanding, to state that the Government intended to close the Irish railways in the event of the transporters further refusing to carry troops and munitions. He feared that this would lead to incalculable consequencesThe English and Irish railwaymen would continue to consider the position in the light of the Government's announcement. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.