New-York tribune., 1920-04-15
No Conditions Imposed
by Government as 80
Who Refused Food Are
Taken to Hospital
Starving Leaders
Spurn Compromise
British Hurriedly Drop
Drastic Terms; Policy
of Cancellation Planned

DUBLIN, April IL (By The Associated
Press).-Eighty-nine hunger striking
Sim Fein prisoners have been released,
apparently Internationally, from
MountJoy prison, and as result the
general strike is considered off.
The Lord Mayor, who went to see
Lord Church at the viceregal lodge
when hitch arose at Dublin Castle
through a stipulation that tho prison
ers must return to their captivity on
their recovery. stated on his return
that the prisoners would be released
Internationally.
The prisoners had refused to accept
the stipulation on the ground that it
was reapplication Of the "cat and
mouse" policy.
The release Of the prisoners. an
nounced at S o'clock in the Afternoon
is regarded as a complete triumph for
the hunger strike and its ally, the gen.
eral strike. 1t became known early
that Viscount French had summoned
the Lord Mayor, and that it was then
only question Of terms.
1t is not definitely known what the
A'"e ca g anu Ao1 sVlHc uayS tnero may
be contradictory statements regarding
them. The trade unionists, however,
had no doubt which side had won, and
imme mediately called off the strike, to the
great relief of the citizens.
Order to Prisons Board
The Prisons Board also received an
order that henceforth, under the de-
fense of the realm act, prisoners should
V0n noSt ~ ~.r4$ I1
date Of their arrest until their trial
for specific offense.
The visit to Dublin Of James Henry
Thomas, general secretary of the Ma
tional Union Of Railway Men and La
Dor Member of Parliament for Derby
is regarded as having had some share
IN the decision for the release of the
men. 1t is said that an attempt was
to have been made to bring about
strike in England in support of the
Irish cause. Mr.. Thomas made a speech
from window of the labor executive
Offices this afternoon, indorsing the ac-
tlon of the hunger strikers.
The absence of military from the
streets to-day was conspicuous. There
were no tanks or armored cars posted
at the Jail and the barbed wire barr-
cades had been removed. The Irish
volunteers assumed charge Of main
tanning order outside the prison and
were implicitly obeyed.
The released prisoners IN the Mater
Misericordia Hospital say that the
prison staffs and ordinary officers at
Mountjoy were kind in their treat
was uncomfortable beds. They were
indignant at two proposals made to
them by the authorities, which implied
that certain of the men should desert
their colleagues. Their attitude was
"all or none"
The strike was in full force to-day.
If funerals were in progress hearses
and the chief mourners were allowed
to proceed, but all other vehicles in
funeral corteges were turned back An
indication of the universal sentiment
political bias, is shown by an appeal
from Chief Rabbi Herzog to the Vice
roy for clemency for "the unfortu-
nate men at grips with death in Mount
JOY"
There is much speculation regarding
the motive of the governments sudden
change Of policy two hours after Mr..
Bonar Laws uncompromising speech in
the House Of Commons. Public rumor
attributes the decision to the influence
Of General Macready, who has just
taken up his duties as commander in
chief of the forces in Ireland. He is
said to have hopes Of making military
rule in Ireland both moro efficient and
more tolerable than heretofore, and he
did not want to start with deaths in
Mountjoy.
AS the eighty-nine hunger strikers had
been starving themselves for ten days,
the form of the official announcement
that those requiring medical treatment
outside Of the prison would be released
was taken to mean that all Of them
would be set free, and that this would
CONTINUED on paeo thrtssn)