The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1920-12-10
HAVING ARMS
AFTER THAT DATE
MEANS DEATH
In the Meantime Govern
ment Will Give Safe Con-
duct to Sim Fein Mem
bers of House of Com
mons So That They May
Confer With Govern
ment.

London, Dec. 10 (By the Associated
Press The British government has
decided to give safe conducts to Sim
Feir members of the House of Com
mons SO that they may meet with the
government to discuss the Irish situa
tion. Premier Lloyd George announced
to-day in the House in delivering an
address on Irish conditions and the
prospects for truce.
Safe conducts would not be grant.
Cd the premier said, to members who
had been involved in the commission
Of serious crimes.
Mr.. Lloyd George emphasized the i'm
portance of the resolution of the Gal
wav county council recently, which
suggested that the ban on meetings OF
the Irish republican Parliament be
withdrawn in order that delegates be
appointed to discuss the situation with
the government.
Martial law is to be applied in GER
tain areas of Ireland, Premier Lloyd
George announced.
In making the announcement regard
ing martial law he said the govern
ment had been driven to the conclusion,
especially after the last two terrible
incidents, that it must take stronger
action in certain disturbed areas.
Under martial law, said the premier,
a proclamation would be issued de-
manding that all arms and uniforms be
surrendered within the prescribed areas
by q certain date. After that date un-
authorized persons found possessing
arms would be treated as rebels and be
liable to the death penalty on convic-
ton by military court.
The same penalty, added Lloyd
George, would be applicable TO unau-
thorized persons wearing uniforms.
A reasonable time would be allowed
for the surrender of arms before these
provisions came into force.
Side by side with the encourage
ment the government was anxious to
give all. these who desired peace-and
they were growing in numbers and in
dependence showing that intimidation
was decreasing government was
determined, declared the premier, TO do
all in its power to break up the ter
Torists
The government, said Lloyd George,
was regretfully convinced that the
Irish population which controlled "the
organization of violence, murder and
outrage" was not yet ready for real
peace, namely, for a peace which would
accept the only basis on which peace
could be concluded acceptance OF the
unbroken unity of the united king
dom
The communications of these "con-
troliers of outrage" were all conceived
in the spirit of an independent, bellig-
erent power, Offering peace to another
independent bellgerent with whom
they were at war and to whom they
were in a position TO dictate, the pre-
mier said. Therefore the government
had decided on double policy.
On the one hand the government felt,
he continued, that it had no option but
to continue and intensity its campaign
against that "small but highly organ
lied and desperate minority" which
wis using murder and outrage in or
der to attain the impossible and which
could bring peace neither to Ireland nor
TO Great Britain.
On the other hand, the government,
the premier declared, would open and
encourage every channel by which the
forces in Ireland which really were
for an honorable settlement
could find expression and 80 lead to
negotiations which would produce
real and lasting peace.