Evening star., 1920-03-30
IRISH RULE BILL
WILL Be MODIFIED
Adoption Seems Probable.
Change in British Govern
ment Policy Foreseen.

LONDON. March 30.-Considerable
modification in the fourth Irish home
rule bill will be made when II comes
to the committee stage. according to
indications given in the frst day of
debate on the measures yesterday.
Its adoption Is probable and speakers
reflected the opinion that the difficulty
would come when attempts were made
to apply IT.
Interest in the bill appeared some
what lukewarm. considering the i'm
portance OF the occasion. but II was
evident that all minds were centered
on the impression the proposed legis-
lation would make on Anglo-Ameri-
can relations.
LONDON, March 3o.-Important in
formation regarding the Sim Fein or
ganization has reached the government.
and documents dealing with these rev
elations will be published soon. accord
ing to the Daily Mail.
Thomas MacCurtain. the late lord
mayor Of Cork, who was murdered in
his home recently. asked to be arrested
for his own protection. but the soldiers
sent to arrest him arrived too late. ac-
cording to a report which the Daily
Mail publishes today.
Women Among Extremists.
Woman fanatics are believed to be
very active in the extremist wing of
the Sinn Fein party. says the Daily
Mail.
The appointment of Sir Neville Mac
Ready. chief of the metropolitan police
of London, as military commander in
Ireland, foreshadows change in the
Irish policy of the British government.
continues the Mail.
The government intends to abolish
some Of the vexatious restrictions.
the newspaper says. and in that re-
spect the new regime will be moro
tolerant At tho same time the new
administration will be empowered to
service in Ireland.
Discussed In Parliament.
LONDON. March 29.-The second
reading OF tho Irish home rule bill
was moved in the house of commons
today by Ian MacPherson. the secre-
tary for Ireland. amid an atmosphere
Of tenseness. but with little evidence
The government. fearing that Stnn
Fein sympathfzer1 might make a
demonstration. had caused special
guards to be stationed at West
minister. but their services were not
needed.
Two motions for the rejection of
the bill have been prepared, one by
the labor party and the other by
former Premier Asquith. The speaker
has given precedence to the former.
luleE6SLp uOWct0bs SChtStS aPSh eAaC
proceedings expected tomorrow. when
Mr.. Asquith will speak against the
bill and will be answered by Premier
Lloyd George.
AnglO.AmericaA Relations.
John R. Clynes. laborite member for
Manchester Northeast, and who was a
member Of the parliamentary group
which early in the year visited Ire
land to investigate conditions there.
in moving a rejection Of the bill. re-
ferred to the effect on British-Ameri-
can relations Of the present system OF
government in ireland by imprison-
ment and deportation without trial
Lord Robert Cecil, former assistant
secretary of state for foreign affairs,
agreed that It was q very bad bill.
without an atom or Irish opinion be-
hind 1t and lacking in Irish approval.
He said he failed to see how II would
conciliate American opinion, IL that
were the object of British policy.
Papal Pr0nouneemeat.
ROME. March 2s.-Pope Benedict
will deliver in May q pronouncement
on the Irish question in its political
and religious aspects. The pronounce
ment Nl1t be made on the occasion of
the canonfzation Of Oliver Plunkett.
the seventeenth-century Archbishop
Of Armagh .and primate of Ireland.
All the Irish bishops will journey to
Rome for the canonization. and pill
grims Also are expected from Ameri-
can and European countries. The Wis
itors will be housed in the Vatican.