PEACE IN IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 April 1922, Page 5

PEACE IN IRELAND.

ANOTHER AGREEMENT, REACHED amongst parties. GOVERNMENTS TO COOPERATE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 30. The Irish Conference has reached an agreement to co-operate for the restoration of peace. The text will be issued later. The Irish terms provide for special police in mixed districts composed of Catholics, a special court without jury to be constituted to try serious offences, and the Republican Army activities to cease in the six counties. Received March 31, 8.15 p.m. London, March 31. In the House of Commons Mr. Churchill announced the Irish agreement. Clause one of the agreement reads: “Peace to-day is declared. The Governments undertake to co-operate in every way, with a view to the restoration of peace in the unsettled districts.” The third clause sets out that special police be appointed in the mixed districts, composed half of Roman Catholics and half of Protestants, recruits being chosen by a special advisory committee, all the police on duty, except those on secret service, being in uniform and officially numbered. Any search for arms is to be carried out by the police, who are to be composed half of Roman Catholics and half of Protestants, the military rendering the necessary assistance. The fourth clause states that a court is to be constituted for trials without jury of all persons charged with serious crimes, the court to consist of the Irish Chief Justice, and one of the Lords of Appeal, the Government of Northern Ireland to pass the necessary legislation giving effect to this. The fifth clause provides for a committee of equal number of Protestants and Roman Catholics to sit at Belfast to investigate complaints regarding intimidation and outrages. The local Press is to be asked to insert such reports of disturbances as may be communicated by the committee.

The sixth clause enacts that the Republican Army activity is to cease in the six counties, and thereupon special police are to be organised for the sir counties outside Belfast, similar to that in Belfast.

The seventh clause provides that immediately following the passage of the Bill framing the constitution of the Free State, before the address in accordance with article > twelve is presented to the Crown, there shall be a further meeting of signatories xo thia agreement to ascertain whether means can be devised to secure the unity of Ireland, and failing this, whether an agreement can be arrived at on the boundary question otherwise than by the boundary commission. The eighth clause provides for the return home of persons expelled, to be secured by their respective Governments, the advice of a committee under clause five to be sought in cases of difficulty. The ninth clause states that in view of the special conditions consequent upon the political situation in ireffast and neighborhood, the British Government will submit to Parliament a vote not exceeding half a million for the Ministrv of Labor in Northern Ireland, this sum to be expended exclusively on relief work, one-third for the benefit of Roman Catholics, and two-thirds for Protestants. The Northern Protestants agree to use every effort to secure the restoration of the expelled workmen, but whenever impracticable owing to depression, the workmen will be afforded employment on relief works to the extent of which one-third of half a million will allow. Protestant exservice men will be given first preference in respect to two-thirds of the fund. The tenth clause states that the Governments shall arrange for the release of political prisoners, but no offence after March 31 will be open for consideration. The eleventh clause asks that the two Governments unite in appealing to all concerned to refrain from making inflamatory speeches and for the exercise of restraint in the interests of peace.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE CONFERENCE. MR. CHAMBERLAIN HOPEFUL. Received March 31, 7.35 p.m. London, March 30. Mr. Chamberlain, in the House of Commons, said the consideration of the Lords’ amendments in the Irish Bill would be further postponed. He was not without hope that the Irish conference would produce results materially conducing to peace. Mr. Churchill added that he hoped to make a full statement on the subject on Friday. RAID ON NEWSPAPER. THE MACHINERY DEMOLISHED. BIG PARTY ENGAGED. London, March 30. Forty armed undisguised men entered the offices of Freeman’s Journal. Dublin, after midnight, seized the departments, turned out the staffs, demolished the machinery, smashed the telegraph instruments, and set the building on fire. The fire brigade promptly arrived and confined the flames to the rear of the buildings, so that little damage was caused by fire, but the destruction of machinerv was extensive. Details show that the raid was carried out by two hundred rebels, who arrived in motor cars. The paper was issued as a small sheet fo-dav. It states editorially: “What Sir Hamar Greenwood. General McReady and General Strickland, and the British army auxiliaries (the black and tansj failed'to do, the seceding section of the Irish Republican Army has done. “Freeman’s Journal, which has fought •for Irish liberty so Ipng, will not be silenced, nor will the Irish people be terrorised out of their rights. They have fought for freedom, not for the rule of mutinous bullies.” Notices have been posted tn Tralee that the boycott against Belfast and other parts of the six county area will be more rigorously enforced. Traders receiving goods are declared liable o a fine of £lOO for the first offence, nd confiscation of the goods on subsequent offences.