IRISH CRISIS.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 September 1920, Page 5

IRISH CRISIS.

THE HUNGER.STRIKER. APPEAL FROM THE POPE. Br Telegraph.—Press Awn.— Copyright. Received Sept. 10, 12.25 a.m. ■ ■-... London, Sept. 9. The Pope hag interceded on behalf, of SfeSweene?.— Reuter Service. London, Sept. 8. . Some papers are publishing denials ol Mr Lloyd George's offer regarding M'Sweeney. Others repeat and amplify them. '■ In the course of a statement to British journalists the Premier stated that M'Sweeney was undoubtedly concerned in. t)io conspiracy against the Government which resulted in the murder of 85 brave and devoted men and the jQwotintf of 178 others. He differentialed between Sinn Fein, which was not a criminal organisation, and the so-called Republican.army, which was striving to dismember the Empire. The Govemgerrt rnusj either protect its forces in eland or withdraw them. A policy of, leniency had already been tried twice, but the. very men released had immediatel£ engaged in fresh conspiracies and recommenced tie murder of police in Ireland. ,- <.Mr. Lloyd George strongly emphasised that the Republican army was engaged in mean and mnrdereus warfare dpon the British forces, seeking by EeruHy-planned anarchy and murder bring about the secession of Ireland m the Empire. The people throughout the world must . realise that the British Government was face,to face with the same problem *4 Lincoln was "before the American CivA war, although the Southerners tought openly and cleanly for secession,, ~mw»'Hb& Irish sought it by murder. If the Republican army conspiracy, in .which M'Sweeney was involved, had existed''"during war time, it probably would bate been impossible to overcome the submarine menace, with the result that the Empire would have been destroyed. . •■' It is officially announced that Cabinet tea decided not to release M'Sweeney. —Auj.-N.Z. Cable Assn.