New-York tribune., 1920-09-15
Drastic Action of Govern.
ment, Reported Under
Consideration, Stirs I'm.
tense Feeling in Erin
lJnion:ists Happy,
Catholics Alarmed
Condition of Mayor Mac
Swiney Reported Weak
er ON 33d Day of Fast
By Frank GETTY

From The Tribune's Earoneon Bureau
Copyright. 1920 New York Tribune Inc.
LONDON, Sept. 14.-No move of the
British government in recent years has
aroused the feelings of the people
throughout Ireland to such a pitch as
has the present intention, official an
aouncement of which is expected i'm
mediately, to enroll and arm "well dis
pesed citizens to assist the authori-
ties" The Ulster Volunteers, in other
words, are to be armed.
The feeling in Ulster among Union
lists Is one Of exultation and among
Catholics of profound alarm. In the
southwest of Ireland there is the bit
serest resentment. England's drastic
step occasions no little apprehension.
.'Sir Edward Carson has triumphed,"
says the Evening Star.
Sir Horace Plunkett, speaking for
moderate opinion in Ireland, charac-
seriyes the creation of the new armed
force as "a deadly blow to hopes for
Irish peace based upon Irish unity"
Deliberate Provocation Seen
Liberal opinion in both countries
sees in the step a deliberate act of
provocaton. Coming on the heels of
the report that British officers wives
have been ordered home and the al
legged discovery of Cabinet plan to
ing appeal to loyal citizens to come
forward and assist in the maintenance
Ok order" leads to fears that there will
be trouble.
There is Terence MacSwiney, Lord
Mayor OF Cork, recognized as martyr
in South and West Ireland, lying at the
point of death in Brixton Prison. To-
day, the thirty-third Of his hunger
strike, he is reported to be "very much
worse and .prostrste." The Sim Fein
have planned to prevent an outbreak
!A the event of his death. Now faced
with the prospect that their enemies in
the north will. be supplied with guns
and ammunition, "for the maintenance
Of order." the Sim Feiners might find
in the death of the Lord Mayor the
spark to kindle a revolt.
"Are the Government Mad:"
Charges that this is what the govern
Tient hopes were freely made to-day.
The conviction that McSwiney's death
would not lead 20 an outbreak led them,
it is said, to inauguratc fresh provoca-
ton at critical moment.
The Belfast Irish News, commenting
to-day on the latest step, says: "Are
the government ed? Not politically
They have set themselves to the task of
destroying the Irish nation. Apparent
ly. the beginning of the end has ar
nved for half million Catholics in
Ulster"
Those who fail to find great cause
!or alarm IN the proposed move see
IN it an indication of the governments
intention to persist in its partition
scheme
The appointment of special under
secretary for Ulster, probably Sir
James Craig. formerly Carson's right
nand nan man. lends weight to this belief.
me government. of course, has never
ihd'cated any intention Of desisting
from the enactment of the present
Home Rule bill, but it has occasioned
50 much objection in North and South
ireland that it was believed it would
never become effective. Craig is the
man principally responsible for the
new move for force The proposal to
ann the Ulster Volunteers came from
oeltast after the Sectarian troubles
early this month.
Oil on Flames of Strife
1he Irish Times. "a Unionist paper,
says: The governmfnt could not have
shosen more untimely moment for
throwing oil into the flames Of Irish
s!lnte. ssnte. The decision to recognize the
Ulster Volunteers leads to grave mis-
g'"'ngs among all peace loving Irish
men lest it set the stage for the trag-
cay of civil war. Il may drown the last
teopes for settlement in sea Of
osood.. We must hook for settlement
70 .rlsh reason, not rifles.
1his from the Unionist paper. Ma
(cAadnaeA nm naaa a..a.A