THE IRISH TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 December 1921, Page 5

THE IRISH TREATY.

ADVICE TO THE PEOPLE. ACCEPTANCE URGED. PRESSURE ON DAIL. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 28, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 27. Preaching at Belfast, the Bishop of Down said he could see nothing but chaos in Ireland unless the nation approved the treaty. Members of the Dail Eireann have received a resolution from a public meeting at Coote Hill, County Cavan, stating that all organisations and representatives of public bodies assembled there strongly demand ratification of the treaty. East Caven. also demands ratification. London, Dec. 27. Bishop Cloyne urged parishioners in his diocese to hold a public meeting in support of the ratification of the Peace Treaty. A movement inaugurated in County Clare for adopting a resolution in favor of ratifying the Treaty is extending to other parts. Public bodies and meetings are sending petitions to the Dail Eireann rejectionists demanding acceptance of the substance of freedom in preference to battling for shadows and theories.

Dr. Maekory, Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor, preaching in Belfast, advocated ratification, contending that chaos was the only alternative While he admitted he would have strenuously opposed some of the provisions before the treaty was signed he believed now that with the country split from top to bottom, ratification was the best course. Rejection would produce a divided and dispirited people, swell the tide of emigration of. young men, and leave the rest with the millstone of a foreign (Government round their necks. Ratification offered a better chance of achieving freedom than rejection did. Bishop Fogarty, whose see includes Mr. de Valera's constituency, and who was formerly a staunch supporter of Mr. de Valera, declares the rejection of the treaty to be an act of national madness. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. TROUBLE IN BELFAST. London, Dee. 27. Serious disturbances occurred in the Marrowbone district of Belfast. Snipers fired on the police, wounding one constable dangerously. The police returned the fire killing a constable and wounding several. SHOOTING CASES. London, Dec. 27. During a fraternal boxing meeting at Dangarvin, in which Irish constables and members of the Republican army participated, an altercation arose. It is alleged that a constable fired and one man was wounded. Armed men raided a farm house at Letterkenny, County Donegal. The farmer and his farm servant put up a fight. The servant and one of the raiders were killed. Five of the raiders were arrested.