TO SAVE IRELAND

Taranaki Daily News, 19 July 1921, Page 5

TO SAVE IRELAND

PEACE NEGOTIATIONS, A NOTE OF WARNING. NEITHER SIDE GIVES WAY, By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. Received July 19, 8.30 p.m. London, July 18. The Morning Post bitterly condemns the negotiations with De Valera. The paper describes him as the head of a murder gang and states that Downing Street authorities are less optimistic as time goes on regarding the main difficulty. De Valera is very vague; he has scarcely given up anything, as if he gives way too much he may become th? '.ictim of his gunmen. Self-determina-tion in his mouth means the supremacy of Dublin over Ulster. The negotiations will be very prolonged and the Morning Post suggests a danger of Mr. Lloyd George betraying Ulster. Sir James Craig, in a message to a war memorial fete at Castle Dawson, -aid: ‘ Rest assured that the Empire in whose cause our heroes nobly laid down their lives will not be weakened by any action of mine. They trusted us to give nothing away and that trust will never be betrayed.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

OPTIMISM PREVALENT. THE BONE OF CONTENTION. London, July 15. Almost on every hand there is widespread optimism regarding the Irish conversations and the prospects of peace. Although Ministers maintain the strictest secrecy, the cheerfulness of their demeanour is regarded as significant. Freeman’s Journal that the real bone of contention is Ireland’s contribution of £18,000,000 annually to the Imperial Treasury. Sinn Fein wants to be relieved from this and placed on the same basis as the Dominions, but this would mean raising England’s income tax to 8s in the £ and correspondingly causing a considerable decrease in the Irish income tax. NO COMPROMISE. London, July 17. Mr. De Valera stated: ‘The Press gives the impression that I have been making a certain compromise on my demands. I have made no demand except the only one I am entitled to make, namely that the self-determination of the Irish nation be recognised.” SAFEGUARDING BELFAST. SINN FEINER RELEASED. London, July 17. Owing to continued disturbances in Belfast a battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders has arived in the city. M. Desmond Fitzgerald, Sinn Fein Minister of Propaganda, ha& been released after twelve weeks’ internment at the Curragh ?aol. He proceeded to London to join Mr. De Valera. MANCHESTER MURDERERS SENTENCED. London. July 17. Three Sinn F&iners at Manchester were found guilty of treason and felony and were sentenced to fifteen years’ imprisonment, one to ten years, four to eeven -yeare. five to five years, one to three years, and two were acquitted.