IRISH AFFAIRS.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1922, Page 5

IRISH AFFAIRS.

. DUBLIN PEACEFUL. THREAT FROM THE REBELS. N'ORE RAIDS REPORTED. By Telegraph.—-Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 4, 7.35 pjn. London, Dec. 4. Dublin is comparatively peaceful, though the arrest of an individual carrying important documents suggests that the rebels have not abandoned their plot to kidnap members of Dail Eireann. Many members of Dail Eireann have entered a Government camp behind barbed wire, in which a temporary' chapel with a priest provides the needs of the religiouslyminded, thus ensuring the quorum necessary to vote the Free State into existence. A hundred rebels held up the town of Tuam, in County Galway, for an hour. They raided shops and searched Free State soldiers and the police, taking the latter's tegginge.

Armed men attacked and robbed individual residences in many parts of Dublin. An official message states Free State guards captured 45 armed irregulars in various parts of Kerry. Liam Lynch, chief-of-staff of the Republican army, ha® written to the Speaker of the Provisional Parliament reiterating de Valera’s previous declaration that every member of the Provisional Parliament who voted for the establishment of the military court is responsible for its actions. Re alleges the prisoners “you have taken have heen treated barbarously when helpless, and have been tortured, wounded and murdered. We have definite proof that many of your senipr officers, including Parliamentarians, are guilty of most brutal crimes towards prisoners. Therefore, I warn you that if your army does not recognise the rules of warfare in future we will adopt drastic measures.” —Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

BOUNDARY PROPOSALS. ULSTER NOT TO PARTICIPATE Received Dee. 4, 7.35 pm. London, Dec. 4. Sir James Craig (Premier of Ulster), speaking at Londonderry, announced that the Ulster Government would not participate in the Boundary Commission. He would not accept the grave proposal to transfer large bodies who had made many sacrifices to territory abhorrent to them. He believed the difficulty could'be overcome by agreement. The Belfast Parliament meets on Thursday. The Nationalists are not expected to attend, in which ease the eontractingout will be carried unanimously.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. GOVERNOR-GENERAL FOR SOUTH. MR. TIMOTHY HEALY CHOSEN. London, Dec. 1. Mr. Timothy Healy is accepting the position of Governor-General of Southern Ireland.

Following on the announcement of the withdrawal of British troops from the Pettigo border zxme, many loyalists are preparing to go to Ulster. Rebete attacked the British destroyer Vansittart in Kenmarie Roads. The fihip did not return the fire. WHOLESALE THEFTS. London, Dec. 3. There were extraordinary scenes in the vicinity of Glenfaxe Hall, Leitrim, once occupied by Sir Edward Harland, the Belfast shipbuilder. Hundreds of people brought vehicles and stole everything movable inside and outside, including the furniture left by the owners. The steward was powerless to stop it.

PLEBISCITE SUGGESTED. London, Dec. 3. De Valera, in a letter to the Manchester Guardian, suggests taking a plebkeite in Ireland on the issue of the Republic or Free State. He promises the Republicans will accept the decision if Mri tain will do so.

CHILDERS’ LAST LETTER. humajj documents.” London, Dee. 3. The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Mail says that Childers’ U*t letters to his wife the night before he expected to be executed are remarkable human documents. He wrote:— “Will the nation soon understand and reverence what actuates my comrades in the cause? I feel n will if only I could die' knowing my death may somehow eave the lives of others and arrest the policy of executions. I hope one day that my good name will be cleared in England. I felt what Mr. Churchill said about my hatred and malice against England. How well we know that that was untrue. What line I ever wrote or spoke justifies the charge? I die loving England passion. at>ly and praying to see that she may change completely towards Ireland.” A few hours later Childers wrote: "The execution is postponed. It may be only for a day. when I would far rather it came ac once, if it is to come.”

In a final letter, written early on the day of his execution, Childers said; "My beloved country, God send you courage, victory, rest, and to our people harmony and love. You would be pleased to see how imperturbably normal and tranquil I have been this night and am. AU Teems perfectly simple and inevitable, Mke lying down after a long day’s work.”