IRELAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 April 1922, Page 5

IRELAND.

PEACE AGREEMENT, AN EARNEST EFFORT. NO SACRIFICE BY ULSTER. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received April 5, 5.5 p.m. London, April 4. Sir James Craig, speaking in the Ulster Parliament and referring to the peace agreement, said that so far as Ulster was concerned nothing had been sacrificed. He had no desire to claim that the agreement was a triumph for either Ulster or for the South. It was an earnest endeavor on the part of the signatories to bring peace to the whole of Ireland. When the Irish Republican army activities ceased in the six counties they would have peace in Ulster, if there was no further trouble. They now knew that the persons who attempted the overthrow of the Government and disputed the solidarity of the six counties, were open foes of both Ulster and Southern Ireland. —Aua.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ULSTER’S ATTITUDE. OPPOSED TO JOINING FREE STATE. OPPOSITION TO AGREEMENT. Received April 5, 9.20 p.m. • London, April 4. Speaking in the Ulster Parliament, Sir John Craig said: “If a person can be found to lead Ulster into the Free State it won’t be me. Even if I thought it would be beneficial to Ulster to go, I would not do it.” There is considerable opposition in the Northern Parliament to the London agreement. Following Sir John Craig’s statement, Colonel Cooper declared that ninety per cent, of the border residents were opposed to the agreement. The Fermanagh raiders included some of Michael Collins’ supporters. It was absurd to suggest Sinn Feiners should be included in the Ulster police. Other speakers thought Parliament should have been consuttea oefore the agreement was signed. The debate was adjourned. Lord Londonderry defended the agreement in the Senate.

Farmers and traders at Swinford disobeyed an order of the rebel forces to suspend business, whereupon hundreds of armed men entered the town and wrecked the principal shops ana forced others to close. Business is entirely suspended in the town, which is closed. BELFAST DISTURBANCES. RELIGION OF THE VICTIMS. Received April 5, 5.5 p.m. London, April 4. In the House of Commons Mr. Churchill stated that during the disturbances in Belfast from February 10 to March 26 32 Protestants were killed and 86 were wounded, while 51 Catholics were killed and 115 wounded. One military officer and six police, of whom three were Catholics, were killed, and a number were wounded. —Reuter Service. SEVERE FIGHTING. IN SPERRIN MOUNTAINS. REBEL LOSSES. Received April 5, 8.30 p.m. London, April 4. Severe fighting is proceeding in the Sperrin mountains, north-east of Tyrone, between the Crown forces and the rebels, who are hiding in the mountain fastness. Encounters are taking place nightlv. It is stated that twenty-five rebels* have been killed.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. REBELS SEIZE MOTOR CAR. Received April 5, 9.20 p.m. London, April 4. Republican rebels, in a crowded street at Mullingar, forced a party of Irish constabulary to abandon their motor car, in which the rebels drove away. VICTIM OF OUTRAGE. London, April 4 MaeMahon’s eldest son, who was shot during the attack by raiders on his father’s hotel, has died. The sole survivor of the outrage is another son, who is still in hoapital.