RISH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 28 February 1922, Page 5

RISH AFFAIRS.

C jxsFUSION CONTINUES. FATE OF THE TREATY. LOYALTY OF DAIL, By Telegraph.—Press Asad.—Copyright. Received Feb. 27, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 26. Mr. Duggan (Minister for Home Affairs in the Dail Eireann), interviewed, said: "The British Government appears to believe that we have virtually abandoned the treaty, but we were able to make clear that that was not the case; we stand exactly where we did.” The Australian Press Association learns that excellent news is forthcoming regarding the work of Ae border commission and the liason arrangements made thereunder. The Free State representative, reporting to his Government, shows how prisoners held by both sides have been released. TTie same officer ordered the arrest of a man charged with intimidating an Ulster woman living in Monaghan. Unionist refugees from Monaghan were guaranteed protection if they returned, upon which Ulster reciprocated in respect to Sinu Fein sympathisers, resident in Ulster and who tied to Monaghan. Sir James Craig (Premier of Northern Ireland), returning after a threeday tour of four hundred miles, told the Morning Post correspondent that the districts he had seen remind him of the' Balkans and Silesia. In some parts it was not safe for loyalist farmers, to attend their farms, being sniped by I.R.A. On the other side of the border loyalist refugees are already coming from Monaghan.

The situation is more grave, owing to Mr. Collins’ admission of de Valera's majority in the Sinn Fein Convention. Irish Catholics are displaying the greatest interest in the Bishops' Lentin pastorals. Cardinal Logue’s, which was transmitted from Rome, says: “I grieve to learn that the benefits of the settlement are endangered and a return to real peace impeded by divisions among our own people.” Cardinal Logue exhorts the clergy and people to pray for peace. Bishop Mcßory. Bishop of Down, adopts another line. He can see no hope of peace if Ulster will persist in cutting herself off politically, and it is pretty certain she will be cut off economically and commercially. Thus illfeeling will be provoked and religious differences perpetuated and intensified. The Morning Post states that Cabinet has agreed to amend the Irish Bill to meet the Sinn Fein demands. The committee stage begins to-morrow 7 .

THE LONDON CONFERENCE. SITUATION BRIGHTER. London, Feb. 26. Speculation is rife regarding the actual purport of the meeting between British representatives and delegates from the Free State Government. It is predicted in some quarters that the results are so happy that the Government will proceed with the Irish Bill forthwith. Mr. Collins, interviewed, declared: “1 am returning to Ireland satisfied that the British Government is standing by the terms of the treaty. On our side, we who accept and uphold the treaty, will equally stand by its terms and intend, with the help of our fellow countrymen, to carry them out in the letter ind spirit.” Messrs. Churchill and Chamberlain, >ir L. Worthington Evans, the Hon. E. 5. Montagu, and Sir Hamar Greenwood aad a ninety minutes conference to-day with Messrs. Griffith and Duggan. It ■ )s understood the situation has brightmed. The Irish delegates have returned io Dublin. SHOOTING IN BELFAST. FOUR PERSONS KILLED. Received Feb. 28, i.lO a.m. London, Feb. 27. Gunmen claimed four victims in Belfast during the week-end. A bomb thrown on Sunday exploded, shattering windows and damaging the walls of a how, but no one was injured.