Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-24


mons tonight by a majority OF 1913. re-
iected John Redmond's motion depre-
eating the government Irish policy as
calculated to endanger the success ri
the Irish convention.
The debate was a strong one. due tc
the revelation by Premier Lloyd
George and Henry Edward Duke, chief
secretary for Ireland of a further Ger
! man plan to land arms in Ireland. II
also derived unexpected interest from
| light thrown on the progress of the
! Irish convention. Mr.. Duke and Her
bert H. Asqaith both expressed mos
| hopeful views concerning The success
OF the convention, Mr.. Asquith saying
he believed that only a few months
would intervene before a policy woulo
be submitted to Parliament concern
ing Ireland John Redmond, a membe,
of the convention. said he was able
to pay tribute to the moderate and
helpful attitude Of the Ulster mem
! bers Of the conference.
Dukes Defense Exhaustive
Mr.. Duke in an exhaustive defense
of the Irish executive. indicated that
. the authorities are steering a middle
Sert;on from would-be destroyers He
strongly emphasized the great danger
existing for Ireland through thousands
Of young men untouched by military
CONSUMPTION. being submitted to tn"
subversive influence Of the Sim Fein
mo, eme Mt. which he described as re
be llious propaganda. ready to accept
enemy assistance.
The chief secretary declared that while
| the government was prepared TO take
necessary steps TO prevent criminal acts,
il would at the same time refrain from
embarking on policy of arrests which
would only help the secessionist propa
ganda.
Lloyd George Deneunces Sim Feiners
Mr.. Lloyd George. whose absence for a
/ time during the debate had been strongly
criticized by the Irish members made a
dramatic temperance In the house and
wound up the debate with a strong and
outspoken denunciation of the Sim FEN
/ movement and of the agandan OF
Professor Edward De Valera. Sim Feir
members for East Clare. He also made
striking revelation OF another plot aid.
ed by Count Won Bernstorff. the former
German ambassador to the United States
to land arms in ireland. The premier also
gave assurance to John Dillon one Of the
Irish leaders. that the government would
dc it's utmost to put any agreement reach
ed by the Irish convention into Legislative
effect.
Germany Aiding Sim Feiners
In the House Of Commons today
Henry E. Duke, chief secretary for
Ireland, said that last February the
British Cover .nent had deported prs-
oners from Ireland because Germany
was again offering a helping hand to
the Sim Feiners.
The belief was expressed by Mr.
Duke that the convention was on the
announced that while the constitution
was in the r'aking. the government
would do its utmost to avoid the pol
icy of making arrests. which he con-
sidered as likely only to help the Sc
cessionists' propaganda.
Mr.. Luke declared that the recent
troubles in Ireland had arisen because
the convention WIS doing well and the
Sim Fein leaders wish it to fail. He
said the government intended to do
its utmost to prevent criminal acts
with such intention.
Action Was Justified
The secretary did not complain OF
the motion or Of Mr. Redmond's crit :
icism. but felt that all the action TAX :
en- by the administration In Ireland
was justified. The Irish convention. he
declared. was n working demonstra :
ton Of the fact that if given chance.
Irishmen could administer their own
affairs
he defended the Irish policy ecnsr-
ally and pointed to the unprecedented
maenarimity with which the Slim
Feiners. who had been endca yoring-
TO stir up revolt had been treated
Dealing eXhaustively with the seizures
OF arms and the death of Ashe and
irish volunteers he said that for a De
ROD running into months, there had
peen steady organization in every
parish in Ireland and to a considera BILE
extent in The large towns. Of tho now.
force-the Irish volunteer brcariza-
ton, rebel force. These men had been
aIms and shall have more before tho
1ateful day arrives"
Inc new member from East Glare
frof. De Valera. was quoted by the
secretary as having said in speech
we have arms and we shall use them
When the time comes We are ready
ana Will be more successful than YOU
were the last time. If anybody offers
We helping hand from France Amer
lea or Germany we shall take it,
The secretary continued: The help
ing hand held out at the time of tho
irish rebellion was Germany's. Last
February when It became necessary to
deport from Ireland certain persons
y was because the helping hand was
held out again. and the British govern
ment knew it,"
Mr.. Duke said that there still were
nen who persevered in their determi-
nation to make government in Ire
land impossible: they are determined
TO crefte terrorism in the country in
order To attain their object
The secretary continued:
There is the greatest alarm that at