The New York herald., 1920-12-31
PEACE IN IRELAND
SEEMS AT HAND
Every Effort at Cancellation
Apparently Being Made
on Both Sides.
CLERGY OPPOSE FORCE
Government Will Not ComprO-
mise With Murder, but
Offers Remedy.
CLERGY OPPOSE FORCE

Special Cable to THE New YoRK HERALD.
cop,rtoht, 1920, By THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau,
London, Dec. 20.
Every effort at conciliation was evil
dent tonight on the Irish political front.
Sir Hamar Greenwood. Chief Secretary
for Ireland, tonight told the Central
News Bureau: I'VE are out FOR peace
and Archbishop Gilmartin OF Tuam
joined the Bishops of Cork and Kilmore
in denouncing ambushing. assassination
and reprisals. There Is reason to believe
that the efforts of the United Newspaper
Publishers Of London to obtain the re-
lease of Fitzgerald and Edward. pro-
prietors of the FreemGn's Journal, prose-
cuted by the Government and impris-
oned, will be successful. The Star says
it knows the report Of Gen. Strickland
on the Cork burning frankly attributes
the beginning Of the fires to the Black
and Tans, though declaring that the
town roughs continued the incendarism
to loot.
But "the military front" is unrelaxed.
With the failure of the Irish to sur
render their weapons-preferring to risk
the punishment of summary execution
there have been further sharp conflicts.
both open and Of the ambush sort. The
crown forces\ also are intensifying their
activities for the first time raiding a
convent in Dublin, from which they
turned out the pupils and nuns, although
they were reported to have behaved with
due courtesy.
IN.
There is, however, a general tendency
In the best informed circles to believe
that on the whole the above circum-
stances spell hope. Particular gratifica-
ton is expressed among those seeking
peace at the new stand taken by the
clergy. Hitherto the clergy have at least
tactily agreed that the Sim Fein inter-
pretation of Cardinal Mercier's doctrine
of resistance to invaders was justified.
rhis has been the biggest source Of
trength to the Irish. young men going
out by the thousands to face death with
the light of martyrs in their eyes. That
the clergy Is now condemning this prac-
ice is taken to indicate that the Sim
Feners are ready to admit that they
can't beat the British Empire by Irish
force and that they will ultimately be
willing to negotiate.
Archbishop GiImartin said 1.-THE pres
ent circumstance of armed resistance
against the existing Government is un-
lawful; first. because there Is no chance
for success; secondly. the evils of such
a course will be much greater than the
evils 1t would try to remedy. Hence l
feel bound to warn the brave young men
against rash action. Let them remem-
Der that rashness Is the coward's crime,
while self-restraint Is the highest degree
Of courage"
Government Out for Peace.
Secretary Greenwood says that while
the Government 'Is out for peace" there
can be mo compromise with murder"
He goes on to praise the Home Rule
bill as the historic beginning of a real
Irish settlement because once and for
all 1t removes Ulster from British poll
tics and puts Irish unity up to the
Irishmen themselves.
1t is also known that Arthur Griffiths
Acting President of the Irish Repub-
lie. had important visitors at Mountjoy
Jail to-day, and although De Valera GER
that negotiations for peace are now
going on under cover just as vigorously
as they were month ago.
The Times this morning said the Cab
met discussed for two hours yesterday
the Irish question In It's domestic, impe-
rial and International aspects, and added
hat the Ministers were desirous OF TAX
ing the first opportunity to talk peace
with the representatives OF the Irish
people.