NEGOTIATIONS WITH SINN FEIN.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1922, Page 5

NEGOTIATIONS WITH SINN FEIN.

(REMARKABLE CONTRACT, MORNING POST COMMENT. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Oct. 31. The Morning Post details a remarkable political contract allegedly signed by Mr. M'Curdy and Mr. Lloyd George : s private secretary with M. A. W. Cope, formerly a minor official in the Pensions Ministry, and later -under-secretary at Dublin Castle, who aicted as intermediary between the British Government and the 'Sinn Fein leaders, whereby he was appointed director of Mr. Lloyd George’s party organisation, with a grant of £9OOO cash and £2500 yearly for seven years, with inclusion in the next honours list and a seat in Parliament.

Referring to the article in Blackwood’s Magazine, which -says that the history of the Irish negotiations is likely to remain concealed ’ for years and that undoubtedly, but for Mr. Cope, they would never have come to fruition, the Morning Post adds: “We fear this appointment makes it more likely than before that the history of the negotiations will remain concealed.” DE VALERA’S LEADERSHIP. A NOMINAL POST. London, October 31. Dublin advices say that a proclamation to the Irish Republican Army was issued last evening declaring that the army leaders, as final custodians of the Republic, have appointed Mr. de Valera President, and nominated a Council of State. This shows that Mr. de Valera's leadership has become merely nominal. The proclamation means that the whole conduct of the Republican cause is now in the hands of Liam Lynch and other military leaders. It is thought the proclamation is the rebels’ deliberate reply to recent proposals for a settlement on the basis of the recognition of the treaty. The National troops carried oct a wide-sweeping movement in West Mayo, which is cleared, while small columns sent to the hills of Mayo are ousting the Republicans. A number of small villages were occupied. The inhabitants are .poverty-stricken and short of food. They had had no news of the outer world for more than three months.

One hundred and fifty of 300 Ulstei men, delegated to participate in the election campaign, have landed in Liverpool. They will be distributed in batches of ten throughout London and other cities. They bring a statement by Sir James Craig, declaring it incumbent on Ulster to resist the revision on boundaries which Mr. Lloyd George promised Sinn Fein, and seeking assurances from British Parliamentary candidates that the new Government will safeguard Ulster’s interests.

Four mines were laid at the entrance of Oriel House, the Dublin headquarters of the Government Criminal Investigation Department, last night. One exploded and several civilians, including four women, were injured. The building and neighbouring houses were damaged. Simultaneously with the explosion Oriel House was subjected to machine-gun fire for seven minutes. The police and troops cleared the streets and arrested numbers of persons, including three armed with revolvers and grenades. THE STORY DENIED. MR. COPE’S EXPLANATION. Received Nov. 1, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 31. Mr. A. W. Cope denied the Morning Post’s story. He admits he left the Civil Service and attached himself to Mr. Lloyd George at a salary not exceeding what he drew in the service. There was no undertaking that he would be given any honor or seat in Parliament FORCED TO LEAVE HOME. CAMPAIGN AGAINST FARMERS. Received Nov. 1, 8.10 p.m. London, Oct. 31. Armed men forced three Protestant farmers in the Athlone district to leave their homes'’ with their families, and each was threatened that if he did not go in a specified time he would be shot. The gunmen said the farmers were Cromwellian planters, and (heir holdings belonged to the gunmen, having been held by their ancestors. Similar outrages occurred at Roscommon and Galway.