GREAT BRITAIN: Irish War

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Exodus. Listeners did not doubt for an instant that the reference was to Germany, which supported the Irish Easter Rebellion of 1916. Fearing that a few hours' delay might result in another tragedy, Parliament last week hurriedly passed the Prevention of Violence Bill. The instant royal assent made it law, 21,000 police and Scotland Yard detectives swooped down on I.R.A. suspects. By night Sir Samuel had signed 19 expulsion orders. The prize fish eluded the dragnet. Elusive Chief of Staff Sean Russell, thought to be in England alter completing an American fund-raising tour could not be found. Among those shortly to be shipped to Ireland was "the man with a slouch," who was suspected of placing the bomb in King's Cross Station. So great was the panic of Irishmen who had reason to fear the police that the boat train for Dublin had to run in three sections.

"Dev's" Predicament. Sad-faced Eamon de Valera, Prime Minister of Eire, looked unhappier than usual last week as he lamented: "Last spring we created a favorable attitude in Britain toward ending partition, but this campaign in England has put us back." So far, the Eire Government, although it has outlawed the I.R.A., has not arrested any of its leaders. Many Irish Government supporters secretly sympathize with the young hotheads. Last week "Dev" hinted that he would take action to clear out the nests of plotters. If he does, it might mean the end of more than his political career. The I.R.A. has confined its current campaign to England and Northern Ireland. If hunted by the Eire Government, it might turn on its own countrymen.

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