Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-16
ireland Warned !
!. OF SOVIET DANGER
Setting Up Communist Repub-
lie Would Ruin Cause for
Century, Says Churchill
TO RESUME TROOPS RECALL
BY the Associated Press

by the Associated Press
London. Feb. 16.-Prediction that a
coup d'etat in ireland which resulted
in the setting up of a Soviet republic
would ruin Ireland's cause for a GEN.
tury. was made by Winston Churchill.
Secretary for the Colonies, in moving
in the House Of Commons today the
second reading Of the Irish Free State
I,lll. Such an occurrence was not ut
all likely. however. in the opinion of
the British Government. he said.
Referring TO the present Irish Par
Lament. the Colonial Secretary said:
1T was not chosen because Of the
fitness of its members to govern, but
because they were thought to be the
most obnoxious to Great Britain and
because they were the men who hated
this country most. IL any progress is
10 tc made. there ought to be a parla-
mcnr In Ireland representing the hope
of the future rather than the hatred of
the past.
''Is is perfectly clear that the repu.
diation of the treaty by Ireland would
free all parties from their engagements,
and the position of Great Britain.
standing on the treaty and ready to
carry it out If others were found on
behalf of the Irish nation to do their
part. would be position Of great moral
as well as undoubted material strength
More Troops TO BE Withdrawn
Michael Collins return to Dublin to-
day after only twelve hours in London
and his admission that he was not dis
satisfied with the results of his con-
ferences with Government officials here
are taken to mean that the British
evacuation Of South Ireland will be re-
sumcd forthwith and continue unin-
terruptedly.
This wCuld relieve the situation in
Ireland of one of its most serious
features. No official explanation of the
assurances given Mr.. Collins, however,
has vet been made.
No troops have been moved~from the
South since Monday with the exception
Of 100 cavalrrmen. who embarked nj
Dublin fer Liverpool last night. The
other troops which arrived in Dublin
Cn Monday are still there.
Mr.. Churchill also announced that
impartial commissions. each Of which
will include several British representa-
tives as well as officers of the oppos-
ing sides, are to investigate the facts
of the border dispute.
Opposition Gaining Ground
The strength of the conservative op-
position to the measure, which Is stated
to be growing apace owing to the re-
cent happenings in Ireland, especially
the kidnapping. cannot yet be satisfac-
torily gauged. and will probably depend
upon the developments between now and
the vote. as well as upon the state
1f bn tot
Best informed opinion at the moment
is. however. that the dissidcnts will not
prove numerous enough to prevent pas
sage Of the bill.
The strife in Belfast. which yester-
day went from bad to worse, is causing
the greatest concern to the local au-
thorities. whose efforts to stop the dis
orders hitherto have failed. 1t is con.
fined to certain areas. and the author
/itics believe it to be based on religious
prejudices.
Troops are co operating with the
police in their efforts to root out the
nests of snipcrs. but small success has
thus far been achieved, and reports in
dicate that there will be further acts
of terror before the anarchy which is
incensing the great ma jority of the Bel.
fast citizens is quelled.
Belfast. Feb. 16.-(By A. P.)-The
authorities today commandeered Ulster
Hall. the CommOdiOus structure on Bed
ford street ordinarily used for concerts
and assemblages. for the use of the
troops now engaged in combating the
disorders here. Up to 10 o'clock this
morning the casualties had reached n
total Of IA. with the deaths numbering
thirty four.
rnhn Io, ,r;t
five-year- old child, who was struck BY
a bullet while playing in the street.
A workman proceeding along Seaford
street, in the Ballymacarrett area. was
shot dead. Youthful gunner held up
workers in the Low Market district and
wounded one of them.
Scumas Monaghan. local commandant
Of the Irish Republican Army. and two
other Republican officers. Patrick and
Michael Murney. have been arrested at
Newry by Ulster special constables.
The officers were proceeding from
kilkeel. County Down, in the direction
Of Kollowen when captured. They were
taken to Lisnacree, where they were
! searched. and afterward were conveyed
to the Newry military barracks under
heavy escort. They are brothers of p.
Murney. chairman of the Kilkeel Board
Of Guardians.
1 An attempt was made this forenoon
to burn the disused workhouse at Stra-
bane. North Tyrone. which the military
had signifed their intention of occupying
this week. \ police patrol noticed
flames coming from the structure and
The entire force was moblizcd and
checked the fire. Examination showed
that petrol had been strewn over the
stairs and bedding. The district hospi.
tai adjoins the workhouse.
1t appears that a number of armed
mcn entered the Strabane workhousc.
over-awed the nurses and placed them
in corner Of the main room and
covered them with revoyers. The ba nd
\ then seized the bedding. which was used
in the attempt to set the building
ablaze. The workhouse guardians rc.
fused on Tuesday to turn over the
building to the military, wlS thercupon
Communicated it.