IRISH TERROR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 February 1921, Page 5

IRISH TERROR.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. BRITISH POLICY ATTACKED. DE VALERA’S CHARGES DENIED. By Tslsgraph.—Pres* Assn—Copyright. London, Feb. 21. In the House of Commons, Sir Hamar Greenwood indignantly denied De Valera s statement that the Crown forces were guilty of any outrages on women. Even the Labor Party Irish Commission admitted that no more than one per cent of the constabulary were bad. Considering the danger these men were placed in this was a superb compliment. Every man in the Crown forces who was accused was brought to trial, and it was found that most of the accusations were false. The reason there were more casualties in the Crown forces* was that the soldiers were not now sealed up in the barracks, but were fighting for the authority of the Crown, and were succeeding. The Irish Republican army was confined to certain areas; the Government had broken the reign of terror in two-thirds of Ireland. Mr. Wedgwood Benn, moving an amendment to the Address, charging the Government with having failed to repress crime in Ireland and involving the forces of the Crown in a competition in crime with the Sinn Fein era, said Sir Hamar Greenwood was creating new capital offences, for which people were executed. Sinn Fein hostages were used as fire screens for the military. Sir Hamar Greenwood systematically employed the population for the purpose of restoring order. The policy was doing much to threaten the security and coherence of the Empire. Mr. Kenworthy seconded the amendment. AX ENQUIRY URGED

Sir Hamar Greenwood, replying, denied that Britain was suffering loss of esteem abroad owing to the stand it was making for civilisation in Ireland. Their own’ colonies recognised that the British Government was trying to put down a campaign of assassins. Despite the Sinn Fein orgy of blood Ireland had enjoyed unexampled prosperity since 1914.

Sir H. Greenwood read the Sinn Fein memorandum captured on Saturday outlining a scheme for the destruction of property in England, including ships, coal mines, gasworks, aquaducts, farm crops, telephones and telegraphs. Mr. Devlin called on the Government at least to fight the band of peasant boys who formed the Sinn Fein Army fairly and cleanly, and if it could not overcome them, let the British clear out of Ireland. Both Sinn' Feiners and the Government were engaged in a fruitless task. Let the Government invite Sinn Feiners to meet them and fashion out some plan of agreement. If the moral conscience of the country w&s- not aroused by what is going on in Ireland. public opinion had got into the deadly grip of gross materialism. Lord Robert Cecil, rising in the front Opposition benches, was greeted with Liberal and Labor cheers. He urged the Government to send to Ireland a distinguished Judge, an English General, and a member of the House of Commons to enquire into acts of violence by the “black and tans” and other auxiliaries, and also the burning of Cork. He urged the Government to abandon the whole policy of reprisals. Mr. Arthur Henderson said Labor was strongly in favor of peace negotiations between the Government and Sinn Fein.

“END THIS BUTCHERY!” Mr. Asquith said: "The Chief Secretary accuses me of being an apologist, an abettor, and an accomplice of crime.” Sir Hamar Greenwood, interrupting: «T made no such accusation. I said your speeches unwittingly encouraged Sinn Fein.” Mr. Asquith: “That is a compliment to my character at the expense of my intelligence. I never made a speech without denouncing the methods of Sinn Fein. I have been called a proGerman and a Bolshevik, but I have a lingering hope that my political reputation will still survive reprisals, which provide the most discreditable chapter in the whole history of British administration. The Government should grant a full and impartial inquiry and end this butchery.’” Mr. Bonar Law said that after the 1916 rebellion Mr. Devlin sand of Mr. Asquith: “N 6 insurrection has been put down with so much bloodshed.” — ■(Laughter and cheers.) While terror prevailed it might be possible to* get evidence against the police, but it is impossible to get evidence in their favor. Only yesterday two witnesses were murdered. We shall not restore order in Ireland in a hurry, but we will do it. Mr. Benn’s amendment was rejected by 287 votes to 88, and the Address was agreed to without a division. —Aus.Cable Assn. “IRISH MURDERED DAILY” MANNIX ATTACKS GOVERNMENT. Received Feb. 22, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 21. Archbishop Mannix addressed two thousand sympathisers with Sinn Fein at Edinburgh. As the Usher Hall was refused, the meeting took place in the playground of St. Patrick’s Church. He declared that the Irish were being bludgeoned and murdered daily, and it was a disgrace to civilisation, and an eternal disgrace to Britain. If there had been any chance of union between England and Ireland, the present Government had destroyed it for ever.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. SINK FEIN ARMY CHIEF. Received Feb. 22, 11.10 p.m. London. Feb. 22. The Chief of Staff of the Republican Army had a narrow escape from capture in the raid on the Dublin headquarters of the Republican Army. The military found a cup of tea on his desk; a.so an unfinished letter to his wife Bloodhounds failed to find a scent. He had a previous narrow escape in his night clothes. —Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.

IRISH PARLIAMENTS. Received Feb. 22, 11.10 p.m. London Feb. 22. Sir Hamar Greenwood, in the House of Commons, said he hoped the Dominion Premiers would attend the opening of the Ulster Parliament in June, and he trusted the same thing would happen as regards the Southern Parliament.—Aus. TV Z CMOa Assn.