The Washington times., 1922-06-29
COLLINS TELLS
. Of REASON FOR
IRISH DISORDER
Declares Force Absolutely
Necessary in View Of Faith
Placed at Election.
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BY ROBERT J. PREV.
Universal Service.

LONDON. June 29.-In reply TO a
request from me that he interpret
for America his action for the
preservation of law and order in
ireland. Michael Collins last night
telegraphed me from Dublin. saying:
The action which my govern
ment Is now compelled 20 take las
been rendered absolutely necessary
by the recent commission Of grave
offenses against the fundamental
rights of our citizens. involving at
tacks upon their persons and prop.
erty
We have borne with extreme pa.
thence the illegal and improper con.
duct of certain elements in cur
midst since the signing of the treaty
with Great Britain, and it's indorse-
ment by the supreme assembly of
the nation-the Dali Erieann.
1T will be recalled that on many
occasions within the past six
months we have gone far to meet
them and have refrained from TAX.
ing any action despite the greatest
provocation and at the risk OF lay.
ing ourselves open to the serious
charge OF neglecting our duty 10
our citizens.
Majority Backed Course.
AT the recent general election
the people Of ireland gave us by a
huge majority Of four -to-one very
definite mandate to maintain the
situation created by the treaty and to
enforce ordered and settled condi.
tions in the country.
I'VE had fondly hoped that such a
decided and unmistakable mandate
would be respected by all element Is
and interests in the country who
pretended TO any degree Of patriot
ism. Unhappily, such was not the
case. Even since the declaration at
the polls many unauthorized and ir.
regular attacks have been made
against the authority Of the Irish
peoples government and against the
lives and property of citizens.
Still we are 10th to take action,
cherishing the belief that in a little
while even the most disorderly ele.
ments would, come to see that the
will Of the people could not be
Haunted with impunity. Matters
were brought to climax. however,
by the raiding and plunderiny on
Monday, last Of one Of the principal
garages in the metropolis under the
pretext OF enforcing the boycott
against Belfast.
Arrested Ring Leader.
We were obliged to arrest the
ring leader OF this armed gang, and
he is at present In custody awaiting
trial on a number Of counts. Later
that same evening. Lieutenant Gen.
eral O'Connell, assistant chief of
staff, was kidnapped and lodged In
Four Courts by some of the persons
responsible for the plundering of the
garage.
1T is now obvious that we could
no longer tolerate giaring outrages
OF this nature against the people and
the peoples government, and so the
Irish troops were ordered on Mon
day last to take measures to project
the lives and property OF our cit-
zens and to disperse the unauthor.
ICED and irregular assemblies.
Our government has always
taken it's stand aRording to the
will OF the Irish people. and IL is
prepared to stand or fall by that
and by nothing else.
Now that IL has got this definite
mandate II intends to carry on de.
terminedly as the sole government
Of the Irish people.
THE safety of the nation is the
first law and henceforth we shall
not rest until we have re-established
the authority OF the people OF Ire.
land in every square mile under their
Jurisdiction. .
MICHAEL COLLINS"
You win miss . great deal on your