The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-07-26
.PLUNKETT CLAIMS
 IRISH SITUATION |S {. GRAVELY ALARMING
Says His Hopes for Settle ment Lie In the Organ ized Workers of Great
 Britain
By Associated Press


 Piunkett, founder of the Irish Do-
 minion League, and leader of the
 Moderate Irish Nationalist Trinion.
 told New Castle audience today
 that the situation in Ireland is
 more grnveiy alarming than it has
 been within his knowledge of sixty
 years.
 A similar view is reflected by the newspapers of both England and Ire land of all shades of politics. It found expression in all the speeches of Thursdays discussions in the House of Commons, even Sir Edward Carson de- claring he had never known anything like the state of anarchy prevailing and that '' in three-quarters of Ireland the British government has been en- tirely beaten" Sir Hamar Greenwood, chief secretary for Ireland. warned the country to brace itself against a bitter period in Irish history.
 The rioting in Belfast subsided today, but there are plenty of signs that the lull is only temporary.
 Both from Premier Lloyd Georges statement to the labor delegation Thursday and from Sir Hamars speech 1t is considered apparent that the gov ernment regards that parting of the ways as having been reached. One road leads toward negotia ton with the Sim Fein on the basis of a dominion form of government, while the other appar7 ently leads toward the bitter period which Sir Hamar foresees, with more soldiers and stricter laws and .repres- sion foremost among them. one for the trial of criminals by summary courts and the giving up of attempts to induce jurymen to answer to a sum mons.
 EXTREME FACTIONS
 There are two extreme factions in Ireland now, the Orangemen of the north. who insist upon maintaining the Irish system as it is. and the Sim Feiners, who demand independence. Be- tween these policies lies the middle course of dominion government with Ulster. which Premier Lloyd George George has declared he is willing to consider.
 Sir Horace Plunkett said today. My hopes of settlement lie far more in | the organized workers in Great Britain than in any other agency"
 It is understood that James Henry 1 Thomas, labor member of the House oi | Commons, and other. laborites will fol- 1 low the premiers plain hunt to bring 1 the Sim Feln leaders into conference That, however, would mean throwing lCNtFDudTQ tft pliitipoi Iiahh Oi eiiN Nitf> Feiners' platform which is for an inde' lpoadens republic. The Dublin core ] lsrondent of the London Times, who i' 1.-the editor, of the principal southern unionist newspaper, the Irish Times, to- day urges. the dominion form of govern nent He writes:
 'aThe vast majority of Irishmen would welcome any reasonable and honorable escape from their present situation I TT ct the edge Of a vol cano'
 l The correspondent express the pe- lief that the author of dominion home rule for twenty-six counties would flno { favor with all moderate Irishmen, and says the mass of southern unionists are anxious for such an offer without delay CHIEF FACTOR
 l The chief factor operating to prins Irish affairs to head Is the latest phase of warfare-that te retaliation 1 The events of the past few days have l shown that when assassinations occui ! if means an outbreak of revenge pS l the other party, in which peaceabie peo' ple suffer. There is no prediction how i far these outbreaks may go. Anotnei battalion of soldiers arrived in bei1as' i to-day. making five on the ground. >lhree r, Siments of cavalry at Aidersho. nave i been ordered to be ready to proceed to 1 TreIand The lord mayor of Belfast mas ,as,1ed an appeal to the citizens ol that | c;tv for aid in restoring order, deciar- ! ,nr that the authorities are determined tc use drastic measures to deal witr disorder.
 Small interest has been excited in Ire ,,pd by the tentative proposals attrln- ntaa to Mir. Lloyd George regarding do. ,nnjon home rule with the partition oi s,x J-Ister counties The Associated 1 l,ress correspondent has seen several pol it,eians of various views and all agree ltbat there is no immediate prospect oi
 :, settlement in that direction. SIT Horace and his followers declare the pe- lief that a firm offer of dominion ruie fnr all of Ireland, leaving the Ulster po' l sition for adjustment within Ireland n,iobt have a chance, but said the oIiei ,rnst he definite and authoritative MOS ,,onhars of this section said they De i;oved the quickest way out or the oh' fic,,itv would be the establishment or
 statutory elective convention of all lrlsn
 n,en with the power to settle their OWL constitution. .. sno 1 There has been much activity ourihh the mast fortnight and Sir Hamar mas snl,ac,.d considerable opinion from tht ,.saGarate. but the Sim Fein js not com ,.i,,ed ;n any way. The volunteers are regarded as constituting a powertui III, I f,,7ance against compromise Lapo' ir'.ervention through C. Thomas IS salo to' he provoking Sim Fein irr'tatioh'