IRELAND

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1921, Page 5

IRELAND

NO SETTLEMENT OFFER. STATEMENT FROM SINN FEIN. PREVIOUS MOVES NOT OFFICIAL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 5, 7.25 p.m. London, April 4. The Times’ Dublin correspondent states that the Dail Eireann says the British Government has not offered the slightest genuine indication that it is prepared to negotiate on a basis likely to achieve success. The correspondent adds that the responsibility to negotiate rests with officials of the Dail Eireann, and confusion is only caused j)y the futile interference of self-appointed negotiators, which must cease.—Times Service. PICNICKERS TN DANGER. NEARLY INVOLVED IN CONFLICT. Received April 5, 7.55 p.m. London, April 5. A large number of women and children picnicking in the mountains south of Dublin were nearly involved in a conflict with Crown farces. Sixty civilians were engaged in military manoeuvres, and the authorities at Dublin, learning of the manoeuvres, despatched several loads of auxiliaries, who chased the Republicans across country, the Repu licans igniting furze as an improvised smoke screen. The police state that many rebels mingled with the picnickers, preventing the police firing.—’Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn.

GOVERNMENT POLICY CRITICISED. VICEROY’S TASK HOPELESS. London, April 3. The Times, in a leader, says the fact that there has been no change in the Government’s policy towards Ireland will inevitably impede Lord Edmund Talbot’s success in regard to a settlement of the trouble. The policy of force is hopeless, and the Government is proceeding with the elections against wellinformed Irish opinion. The outcome of the elections is clouded. Peace is within their grasp, but they are allowing the opportunities to slip. Peace can be accomplished by a firm offer regarding concessions on financial and fiscal points, which would remove the chief obstacles to the acceptance of their Act. The Dublin correspondent of The Times says that Lord Edmund Talbot’s appointment is generally favorably received but, if the situation undergoes no radical change, hi a task will be hopeless. There -is a definite hope that the appointment implies a change in the Government’s attitude and a hope also that the menace of the Irish general election will be averted. If the first step towards peace was taken to-mor-row by either side it would release influences which would stop the civil war. If Lord Edmund Talbot’s appointment means a truce it means everything, if no truce it means nothing.—Times.