IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 February 1922, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

FATE OF THE TREATY. READY FOR ELECTIONS. NEW ULSTER TERRORS. By Talegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 26, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 2-7. While official circles in London are perplexed regarding the immediate future of the Irish question, the pro-treaty party at Dublin have opened election offices, and are methodically inaugurating the campaign. The Republicans are likewise operating, and are issuing weekly propaganda, in which the treaty is attacked. A prominent contributor thereto is Mr. Barton, who, after signing the agreement, seceded to de Vtk lera. The rival factions in Ulster are embarking on a new strife, particularly in Armagh and Tyrone, where police and patrols were attacked by wandering bands, who used bombs. It is proposed to organise special Catholic police for the Catholic districts in Ulster, and the Northern Government has agreed to enrol a limited number of Sinn Fein non-Rcpublican soldiers. Messrs. Griffith and Duggan conferred with Mr. Churchill and Lord Birkenhead. The conference will be continued on Monday.

FINANCE IN IRELAND. THE POSITION STATED. London, Feb. 24, Mr. Winston Churchill, in Committee of Supply on the Supplementary Vote of £1,130,000 in aid of miscellaneous services administered by the Provisional Government, said that before the war on the whole the balance as between Great Britain and Ireland was in favor of Ireland, but through revolutions in our taxation following the war Ireland had become a substantial contibutor to the United Kingdom revenue. Ireland would be a loser by the Free State agreement Bill. During the fighting in Ireland a great deal of injury was done to persons and property in South Ireland, and a fund was formed from which the proceeds were to meet these claims. In the discussion with the Irish Ministers it was pointed out that local authorities had been deprived of revenue on which they counted, leading to neglect of services dependent on such, revenue, and strongly pressed that revenue should be placed at their disposal to help them to deal with the economic situasume its normal functions. The Government felt tnat, however justifiable intion and help local government to reterception of this revenue was as a war measure, the local authorities’ funds were not the proper source to defray the cost of injuries to persons and property. The Chancellor of the Exchequer also promised Sir James Craig that he would seek authority to pay the" Northern Government in respect to similar losses sustained prior to January 14, 1922. amounting to a million and a half. The Government would create a commission .of three representing the Imperial and Northern and Southern Ireland, with an independent judicial chairman. The commission would fix responsibility for damage. Each Government would bear the financial cost of its own casualties. Sir Hamar Greenwood, rep yhig to members’ queries, could not say whether the Strickland report would be available to the commission.

Replying to questions whether the Government was justified in withholding the money until the Provisional Government could carry bn, said they were not justified in saying that the Government could not carry on. The Provisional Government was without funds, and he agreed to hand over the sum mentioned in the Estimates for local Irish purposes. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Received Feb. 26, 11.5 p.m. London, Feb. 24.

Continuing the debate in the House of Commons in committee of supply, Sir Hamar Greenwood said the claims from Northern Ireland had been reduced from one-third to half in the great majoity of cases. The total value of the claims in Southern Ire fan d was about £9,000,000, of which about £l,000.000 had been paid. . The vote of £1.130,000 in aid of miscellaneous services was carried after a division. THE IRISH BILL. DEL|.Y CAUSES ANXIETY. London, Feb. 23. A serio’/s impression was ipade in the House of Commons by the announcement that consideration of the Irish Bill would be placed in abeyance. The Daily Mail, in a leader, considers the settlement under the treaty is left suspended in mid air and exposed to considerable danger. It is impossible to understand Mr. Collins’ purpose in agreeing to the postponement, bat it discloses the remarkable fact that the British Government does not seem to have stipulated a period for the ratification of the treaty. The Dublin correspondent of the Times points out the* the postponement cheats the people of the right to vote for or against the plain issue in the treaty. It is believed that the great mass of the people want the treaty, and it would seem that Mr. De Vale-a has parted Messrs. Griffiths and Collins from theii great sourse of strength. The treaty will be submitted along with the constitution of the Free State, and the people must accept both or neither. EVACUATION OF TROOPS. Received Feb. 26, 11.5 pm. London, Feb. 25. The Ulster Government announces that it cannot proceed with the Clones inquiry until the Republicans release the special constables they then captured, as the specials are essential witnesses. . A Cork report states that the British evacuation of Southeren Ireland recommences or Monday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.