The Washington times., 1920-09-09
MAYOR M'SW|NEY
IN DEATHS GRIP
Bulletin Announces Numbness
Has Begun to Creep
Over Body.
CONTINUED from First Page)

aS'l
with pain. but II must not be allowed
to obscure our duty. We have posi-
tive proof that McSwiney's brigade
the so-called Irish republican army
was concerned In the murder OF po-
lieemen in Ireland. We must either
hand over all OF south Ireland to
something calling itself the repubIi-
can army or protect the men who are
defending the flag"
ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED.
The hopes which the McSwiney
family based upon Premier Lloyd
Georges return have not yet been jus
titled. SO far the premier has taken
no direct steps toward the release OF
the Cork iord mayor. II 10 under
stood. however. that the premier has
been In consultation with other MEM
bers OF the government since his re-
turn and an official pronouncement
setting forth the attitude OF the gov
ernment may come at any time.
The "Carsonites." adherents Of the
principles OF Sir Edward Carson. the
Ulster ,Unionist leader, have gained
domination In the cabinet, and all
Irish hunger strikers are to be al
lowed to die. according to a report
current In official circles this after
noon.
REJECT sHERIFF's PLEA.
1t is understood that Premier
Lloyd George. under urging from Sir
HAmar Greenwood, chief secretary for
! leland; Sir Nevil MacReady, COM
mAnder OF the British forces in Ire
1d; and A. Bonar Law, signed
Communication rejecting the appeal OF
High Sheriff Barry, OF Cork. for elem
ency for the Irish hunger strikers in
the Cork jail.
1t was reported that Sir Ham8r
Greenwood notified the premier that.
unless he signed the document. no
guarantee could be given for the con-
tinuance in office OF any OF the pres
ent Irish officials. II, az indicated.
the Premier favored a policy OF elem
ency and moderation, he had to give
up his intentions to avoid break
down of his Irish government.
King George. shackled to helpless
ness by, constitutional limitations,
would be glad to have President Will
son request the British government
to save the life of McSwiney.
KING ANNOUNCES POSITION.
The king made his position known
at the annual dinner to the help at
BslmoraI Castle. He said:
"If Lord Mayor McSwiney Is -
leased at the request of President
Wilson, IL would mean that the Pres
ident has greater influence with the
prime minister than ! have, but at
the same time / would prefer so great
a slight to the English monarch.
rather than have the lord mayor die"
The king was cheered loudly. He.
however. fully realizes his helpless
ness and will do nothing without the
sanction Of the premier. The king
has been informed that II he eNer-
cises the royal prerogative the action
will be halted.
COALITION CABINET SPLIT.
The tenacious hold on life Of tho
lord mayor has startet to split the
British coalition government nsunder.
How great the rift In no one knows.
whether II will be healed before
it becomes a public matter cannot be
foretold. But there are unmistakable
signs that it is started.
The prisoner himself may wipe out
all possibilities at any moment by
diving. Then the die will have been
cast But the pressure of world sem
timent, generated by the hot courage
Of the mayor--giving up his life for
the principle OF self determination
is making itself felt.
He is in extreme pain. He is
physically weak beyond the point at
which his physicians thought he
could live, but he is still clear-headed
and he is still fully determined to
die rather than acknowledge British
sovereignty in Ireland.
IRON POLICY FAILS.
There is the rub for the British
government It had decided to in
augurate an iron policy against Ire
land. The arrest of McSwiney and
his comrades was the first big stroke.
His hunger strike was anticipated
and the decision to stand pat on the
death sentence was in.
The first crack in the solid front OF
the cabinet came when Premier
Iloyd George, as absolute master OF
political expediency, gave out that
the lord mayor and the other hunger
strikers could be released il guar
antees were given that the murders
Of the police in Ireland should cease.
Arthur O'Brien, president Of the
Irish DIFFERENTIATION League,
countered today in n style that gives
Sim Fein a clean victory on the first
exchange. He said:
mo communication has been re-
ceived from the premier by the
mayor, his relatives. or by authorita'
tive representatives. We repudiate
the term of murder as applied by
Premier Lloyd George TO other ac-
tions taken by some citizens of the
republic in self-defense.
"Jf, however, Premier Lloyd George
is willing to discuss the terms OF
cessation of hostilities whereby the
lives OF the mayor and others can
be saved he can officially communi-
cate, to the proper persons, who will
consider them.
BAsELEss ARGUMENT.
1.-THE argument that the release
would be disastrous to the morale OF