HOME RULE.

Taranaki Daily News, 10 January 1921, Page 5

HOME RULE.

TO OPERATE SOOhL ESTABLISHMENT OF PARLIAMENT. SB JAMES CRAIG AS PREMIER, By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Jan. 8, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 7. A Northern Parliament in Ireland will‘be established as soon as the machinery is completed, which will probably be in three months’ time. The Unionists expect to have a majority, and it is suggested that Colonel Sir James Craig, now Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions, will become Prime Minister. Sir Edward Carson has decided not to accept office. Mr. H. M. Pollock will be Chancellor of the Exchequer, and Mr. Denis (Henry the first Chief Justice. Elections are also being prepared for South Ireland in the hope that the scheme will be acceptable. Sir Edward Carson has been invited to Belfast to receive the thanks of Ulster Unionists, and a great farewell tour has been arranged. There are signa that the Government will be enabled to execute its plan in the summer for a Southern Parliament in Ireland, despite the present prospect of Sinn Fein attempting to defeat the step by abstaining from participating in the elections. An influential section of Constitutional Nationalists, headed by Aiderman M.cWalter. High Sheriff of Dublin, is preparing to select candidates when the writs arrive. This action may embarrass and alter the attitude of Sinn Feiners, who are likely to hesitate before stirring up civil war by fighting a Parliament composed of their fellowcountrymen. Importance is attached to the unexpected departure French to London from Dublm.”whither he returned nnly a couple of days ago.—United Service and Reuter. [Colonel Sir James Craig, who is mentioned as the Prime Minister for Northern Ireland, is 48 years old. Be has been Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministery of Pensions since January, 1919. After serving in the South African war h«j entered on a political career, and was elected in 1906 as Unionist member for East County Down (Ireland). He has taken the keenest interest in the Ulster movement. A i Ipronetcv was conferred on him in 2918.] SITUATION BIPROVING. ACT BRINGING PEACE. SJNN FEIN CAMP DIVIDED. Received Jan. 9, 5.5 p.m. London, Jan. 7. The Daily Chronicle asserts that the political situation in Ireland is improving. The Home Rule Act controls the situation, and the Dail Eireann sees its only method of amending the Act in financial directions is to accept the Act and hold a conference between the Dail Eireann and Cabinet, which is being arranged, and which will take place in | London shortly. • The Daily Express states events in Ireland are moving rapidly. De Valera was present at a meeting of the bail Eireann, but found his leadership challenged on the ground that he was too moderate There is evidence that Sinn Fein is seriously divided. . The Government is making no attempt to arrest De Valera; on the contrary, they are willing to meet the Sinn Fein leaders if they do not ask for a Republic, which would imperil the strategic unity of the United Kingdom. Archbishop Clune, who has been endeavoring to bridge the gulf, has gone to Paris, on bis way to Rome.—Aua,-N.Z. Cable Assn.

PLANS FOR A TRUCE. NEGOTIATIONS WITH SINN FEIN. Received Jan. 9, 11.5 p.m. London, Jan. 8. xio Australian Press Association representative at Dublin interviewed a veteran Irish Nationalist, formerly a member of the House of Commons for many years, who claims to have exact 4nformation concerning Archbishop Clune’s conversations with Mr. Lloyd George. He asserts that Mr. Lloyd George cordially approved of Archbishop Clune’s proposal for a temporary truce on both sjdes at Christmastide, with the prospect of Indefinitely prolonging it. The Tory wing of the Cabinet, especially Mr. Bonar Law and Mr. Winston Churchill, was opposed to a truce unless the Sinn Feiner* delivered up all arms, but the Sinn Feiners refused this condition, as it was tantamount to an unconditional surrender—Ans.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Jan. 10, 12.10 a.m. London, Jan. 9. The Dublin veteran who was interviewed by the Australian Press correspondent regarding Ireland, was Mr. Healy, who commented bitterly on the Government’s policy. He said that if Mr. Lloyd had any goodwill for Ireland he would not allow his Tory associates in the Cabinet to manifest their hatred towards Ireland.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable 4ssn.