IRISH TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 June 1922, Page 5

IRISH TREATY.

AN AGREEMENT REACHED. NO DETAILS ANNOUNCED. 'AIM OF THE COALITION. TO RESTORE ORDER. Jty Telegraph.—Press Asm.—Copyright. Received June 15 r 5.5 pjn. London, June 14. It is semi officially stated that an agreement on all points has been reached by the Irish conference. Mr. Griffiths hopes to return to Dublin to-morrow, when Mr. Churchill outlines the settlement to the House of Commons. Government circles believe the Irish conference has secured a final settlement, including the representation of the Unionist minority. It is understood Mr. Churchill plainly intimated to Sir James Craig that it was the Northern Government’s duty to keep order in Belfast in return for Britain’s assistance in safeguarding the frontier. The Daily Chronicle’s Dublin correspondent states Ireland is little interested in the London negotiations. AU attention is focussed on Belfast, but the encouraging progress in London has already alleviated the pessimism which weighed heavily on the public mind. It is expected the constitution will be published on Friday, which is polling-day, but it cannot influence the elections. The debate on the constitution in the Provisional Parliament will occupy four or five weeks. It is becoming more and more doubtful whether Mr. de Valera will be a member of the new Government, though it may contain a subordinate member of his group as his nominee. Repeated statements of Sinn Fein leaders, principally Mr. Collins, indicate that dualism will hardly appear In the new Coalition Government, whose principal function will be to restore order and discipline. Public opinion in 26 counties is convinced that an attempt is being made in Belfast to exterminate or expel the Catholic minority, whoe are unprotected, Northern passions being inflamed by the fact that hordes of Catholic refugees are streaming across the border, the succoring of whom is a serious problem. REBELS ATTACK A CASTLE. WELL-PREPARED DEFENCE. Received June 15, 7.50 p.m. London, June 14. There was a romantic attack on Killyleigh Castle, built in King John’s reign, belonging to Colonel Hamilton, a brother of the Dowager Marchioness of Dufferin, and a well-known Ulster Unionist. The castle people had been expecting an attack for months, and ingenious secret defences were laid down, by which the garrison would be instantly advised in the event of a Sinn Fein attack. When the attack commenced. Colonel Hamilton, who is an old man, led a party of special constables, who manned the battlements and fired into the darkness. The raiders were surprised, but responded vigorously in an exchange of volleys. Finally the Sinn Feiners were beaten off. Their losses are not known.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. KILLED BY A MINE. FATE OF TWO REBELS. Received June 15, 5.5 p.m. London, June 14. Two bullet-riddled bodies were found on the roadside at Lislea, County Down, with their hands tied behind their backs. A near-by cavity was due to the explosion of a land mine, which flung the bodies hundreds of yards apart. The men have been identified as Crawley, an auctioneer, and Cregan, a farmer. It is believed they were caught red-handed working & mine in order to wreck a police car, and they were summarily executed by exploding the mine. THE PETTIGO ACTION. NO INQUIRY SANCTIONED. Received June 15, 5.5 p.m. London, June 14. Mr. Churchill, replying to a question in the House of Commons, stated it was not intended to hold an enquiry into the action of the British forces at Pettigo and Belleek. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CABINET DIFFICULTIES. DE VALERA’S DEMAND. London, June 14. A Dublin correspondent states that a difficulty has arisen regarding the appointment of seats in the new Dail Cabinet under the Coilins-de Valera pact. The Republicans have the right to four portfolios and the treaty supporters five. In addition to these, there will be a president, presumably Mr. Griffith, and a Minister of Defence, responsible, not to the Dail, but to the army. It seems that Mr. de Valera is now insisting that he should be Minister of Defence. Mr. Mulcahy, the present Minister, and Mr. Collins are agreeable, but Mr. Griffiths is resolutely opposed to Mr. Je Valera having supreme control of the army, with no responsibility to the elected members of the Dail. ELECTION CAMPAIGN. London, June 14. Attempts by Sinn Feiners to capture TGllyieigh Castle, the seat of Colonel Hamilton, and Rademon House, the residence af Mr. N. Crawford, M.P., in County Down, were repulsed, special guards defending them. Mr. de Valera has been conducting a whirlwind electoral campaign in conjunction with other Coalitionists, but the Independents generally have taken things somewhat quietly. Labor is practically the only organisation, apart from the Coalition, which has held public meetings. No surprises are anticipated as the result of Fridays’ polls.