IRISH PEACE.

Taranaki Daily News, 26 March 1921, Page 5

IRISH PEACE.

PLEA FOR TRUCE. GENEROUS SPIRIT ASKED FOR. DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received March 24, 55 p.m. London, March 23. In Uxe House of Commons, during a general Irish debate, Mr Asquith said the >xtuation vCas Teriohsly aggravated by the policy of the Executive Government during th; last six months. The Executive’s methods in a remarkable degree alienated popular sympathy from those engaged in enforcing the law. Mr. Asquith said that the Government, with the approach of Easter, should call a trace, and, without laying down rm possible conditions, should get back to the atmosphere which prevailed at Christmas. He did not believe the Irish people were bent upon a separate and independent republic, and he considered that the exhibition of a generous spirit would meet with a corresponding spirit ->n the other ride. Mr. Lloyd Seorge, replying to Mr. Asquith, -announced that the Government was making arrangements for holding elections in North and South Ireland in May. It was not fair to say the Government’s policy had failed because they had not put down rebellion in six months. Mr. Asquith himself had failed to do this after the Easter rebellion, though he deported thousands of Irishmen xnd executed numbers. The Government would* have succeeded much sooner if Mr. Asquith had not jncouraged Irishmen. Mr Lloyd George added that the British Government could not agree to a separate and independent Irish Republic. The real teaton for there being no negotiations was because there was no Irish leader who had the moral courage tc say he was going to abandon this claim. It would be fatal for us if Ireland got mtc the hands of an enemy. Mr. Lloyd George recalled Mr. J H. Thomas's that the Mallow shootings occurred the day afiter King’s murder, and an inquiry proved th? assertion untrue, but the story had. gone throughout Ireland, the United States. Fmiwe, and possibly Australasia. He added: “I do not know whether my contra diction will ever appear. AU attacks which discredit, the military and the police are circulated broadcast over the whole world. It is idle to talk of fair play for these people. Mt. T. P. O’Connor urged the Premier take his courage in both hands and tell the Irish people the 'conditions on which he was prepared to give them absolute self-government, without the coercion of Ulster. —Aus and N.Z. Cable Assn. FIVE DAYS’ FIGHTING. HEAVY CASUALTIES SUSTAINED. Received March 24, 8.45 p.m. London. March 24. It is calculated tliat the deaths during the five days’ fighting in Ireland exceed eighty. The official casualties at Stokestown'are two officers and soldiers dead, three soldiers and policemen wounded, and tyc policemen missing. Reinforcements captured two rebels. —Aus. and N Z. Cable Assn. ATTACK ON CORK GAOL. ATTEMPT TO RELEASE PRISONERS. Received March 25, 115 p.m. London, March 24. A force of the Republican Army surtbimtW the Cork gaol last night and made a desperate hut unsueceseful attempt to liberate the prisoners. The rebels first seized the post office and imprisoned the rtaff, together -with , hundred persons formd in the streets near che prison. They placed a guard over the building, instructing the oecugaßts to lie on the floor when flrmg Republicans then scaled the walls of the gaol and dropped nope ladders into Hie yard. One political prisoner, seeing a ladder, made a dasti for liberty, but was recaptured. Finding their plan fizzling uut, the Republicans dispersed. wAus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. MORE AMBUSHES. - Louden, March 23. Three hours’ .desperate fighting followed an ambus's of a police patrol at Dirrg-le (Kerry). Eight civilians were killed and twenty wounded. Four police yrere wounded, not seriously. A police patrol was ambushed, in the mountains eighit miles from Westport. Sergeant Coghlan was killed and two Officers wounded. The police and mriitary, searching for wanted men in the Blarney district, were attacked from a farm outhouse. Six civilians were shot dead in a. running fight lasting an hour at Lispole. A policeman was shot dead and five were wounded. Five Sinn Feinfers were captured, but eeeaped. The Crown farces attempted to encircle the embushers, but failed. Two hundred rebels ambushed a party of the Sth Lancers which was proceeding from Stokesitown to Longford for rations Captain Poak was killed and all the rem/ining Lancers were wounded. The attackers secured arms and amtaunition.