The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-21
COMMONS BACK
CABINET POLICY
FOR IRELAND
Lloyd Georges Stand on
Sim Fein Supported by
346 to 79.
INQUIRY is REJECTED
Labor Leader Had Dared
the Government to Ar
rest Workers.
OPPOSITION VERY WEAK
Chief Secretary Replies Gov
ernment Is Determined to
Break Up Terrorism.
INQUIRY is REJECTED
OPPOSITION VERY WEAK

Special Cdble to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1920, bD THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, Oct. 20.
The House of Commons tonight, by
a vote of 346 to 70. backed up the Gov
ernment's policy of reprisals in Ire
land and refused Liberal-Labor reso-
luton for a public inquiry into the
reprisals In Ireland.
1t did this after Sir Hamar Green
wood, Chief Secretary of Ireland, while
speaking. was interrupted with q cry
of "Murder!" when he referred to the
killing of Sim Fein adherents by soi-
diers, and the declaration by him:
Yes, they were murders; call them
murders." il did it upon the elo-
quent. forceful plea by the Irish Sec
retary to the effect that these same
soldiers are the nations heroes of yes
terday. who are worn beyond human
endurance by Sim Fein killings Of
their comrades.
Il did 1t pom Sir Hamar's assur
ance that he would clean up Ireland
and the quotation Of statistics already
printed in THE NEW YORK HERALD
showing the decrease in the raids and
crimes since the reprisals came into
force.
The Opposition was woefully weak
in the debate as well as In the di-
vision. The voice of Ireland herself,
which has Sc often sounded clear in
historic st. Stephens Hall, was not
heard tonight j. Fl. Thomas, Labor
leader. pleaded for an investigation.
have been arrested and released on
grounds unsatisfactory to MIN. With
oleaginous defiance he dared the Gov
ernnient to arrest railroad men for
refusing to carry troops from England.
andiit was one of the most sinister in
cidents of the whole debate
Opposition on GeneraIitfes.
Herbert II. Asquith. Liberal leader
and Sir Robert Cecil. Coalition Unionist.
confined themselves to pleas which were
full Of generalities on behalf of an in
vestigation in order to clear the British
name before the rest OF the world.
Premier Lloyd George came in late
and listened to the last speakers, but
did not speak himself. He conferred
with Sir Hamar Greenwood and decided
to stand pat on the Irish Secretarys
backing up of the Governments policy.
which was first enunciated by Sir Nevil
Macready. commanding the Govern
ment's forces in Ireland. and later elab-
GRATED by the Premier in his Carnarvon
speech
The debate was upon Arthur Hen
derson's motion regretting ''the state
of lawlessness in Ireland and the lack
of discipline of armed forces which re-
suited in the death of innocent citizens
and the destruction of property" and
asking for a public investigation.
The effect of the huge majority in
favor of the Government undoubtedly
will be to forestall further efforts to
inject Irish affairs into this crowded
session of the House. except to pass the
Governments BILL meanwhile leaving
the Government free hand to go on
with it's policy of rocs..a out the vio-
lence in ireland before the bill becomes
a law a policy foreshadowed in des-
patches to THE NEW YORK HERALD
three months ago
There undoubtedly will be questions
asked in Parliament II further reprisals
stir up publicity, but the Government Is
assured that 1t hardly need worry
a bout how the House will back up any
OF the answers 1t may give.
Called Policy OF Murder.
1t was "Tay Pay oConnor In what
was described as his ablest speech In
many years, who took up the murder
Issue with Sir Hamar Greenwood.
THE Chief Secretary calls 1t MUIR
DER" he said II am glad he admits t.
IL clears the question. The issue, how
ever. is not In what 1t IS called. but
whether the age long British tradition
that the Government must see that the
laws are not broken is
upheld: that Prussianism-.he. doctrine
OF making the innocent suffer with the
guilty--4s not substituted
'ff the House uoes not pass this reso-
luton every Black and Tan every en-
ragged policeman. every drunken soldier
In ireland Is assured that in whatever
he does he Is safe.
There is no Bolshevism In England
because OF the law and order bred in
every Engishman. There was no bloody
revolution ever here because we have
demonstrated that changes In Govern
ment can be brought about through the
processes of reason, order and law. That
is the tradition OK the British Govern
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