On This Day / December 11, 1920
Go BackReproduced with permission from The Irish News.
19201211
Reference Date
19201211
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 11th December 1920, Archbishop Clune’s talks with Lloyd George raised hopes of a truce, even as martial law was imposed across four southern counties. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Message from Sinn Féin | On This Day – 11th December 1920
THE Daily Mail says a remarkable development in the Irish negotiations took place this week.
Archbishop Clune, Perth, West Australia, an active supporter for a settlement, says the Mail had a private interview with Mr Lloyd George and conveyed to him what is in effect a message from one of the Sinn Fein leaders.
The Prime Minister was much impressed and it may be definitely stated that the prospects of a settlement are much brighter than would appear on the surface.
The Press Association learns that the conversation between the PM and Archbishop Clune may have an important bearing on the Irish truce.
Mr Lloyd George has expressed his willingness to consider every possible suggestion, particularly in relation to the extreme wing of Dail Eireann.
A further conference with the Archbishop is highly probable
Four Counties under Martial Law
MARTIAL law is to be enforced at once throughout the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
It is notified that other areas will be similarly treated ‘immediately’ on the occurrence of incidents which in the opinion of the Government would justify such action.
The effect of the Proclamation issued last night is to place the affected areas directly under the administration of the Commander in Chief, all forms of civil law being abrogated.
All arms and uniforms must be delivered up to the military, police or parish priest by a certain date, after which any person found in possession of the same will be treated as a rebel and be liable to the penalty of death. The question of amnesty is reserved for discussion until ‘peace is made’.
For the purpose of discussing peace a meeting of Dail Eireann [suppressed in September 1919] will be allowed but no ‘safe conduct’ will be granted to those members of the Dail who are wanted by the authorities.
The Partition Bill will be proceeded with…
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: While Lloyd George was initially enthusiastic about a Christmas truce with Republicans, followed by a meeting of the (suppressed) Dail, he would later back away from Clune’s initiative under pressure from the Tory ‘war party’ and the brass hats.
By January 1921 the PM was insisting on prior decommissioning as a wrecking tactic.)
Ex-Soldier Sentenced in Derry
The result of the general Court-martial in Derry at which an ex-soldier named John Burke was tried for shooting at Constable Richard McLaughlin [RIC] has been promulgated. Burke was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude.
Burke was seen firing at Constable McLaughlin, the bullets piercing his greatcoat and lodging in the padding of his tunic. The defence was an alibi.
On This Day – 11th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201211
Reference Date
19201211
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Listen Along in Éamons Voice
Summary: On This Day – 11th December 1920, Archbishop Clune’s talks with Lloyd George raised hopes of a truce, even as martial law was imposed across four southern counties. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Message from Sinn Féin | On This Day – 11th December 1920
THE Daily Mail says a remarkable development in the Irish negotiations took place this week.
Archbishop Clune, Perth, West Australia, an active supporter for a settlement, says the Mail had a private interview with Mr Lloyd George and conveyed to him what is in effect a message from one of the Sinn Fein leaders.
The Prime Minister was much impressed and it may be definitely stated that the prospects of a settlement are much brighter than would appear on the surface.
The Press Association learns that the conversation between the PM and Archbishop Clune may have an important bearing on the Irish truce.
Mr Lloyd George has expressed his willingness to consider every possible suggestion, particularly in relation to the extreme wing of Dail Eireann.
A further conference with the Archbishop is highly probable
Four Counties under Martial Law
MARTIAL law is to be enforced at once throughout the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
It is notified that other areas will be similarly treated ‘immediately’ on the occurrence of incidents which in the opinion of the Government would justify such action.
The effect of the Proclamation issued last night is to place the affected areas directly under the administration of the Commander in Chief, all forms of civil law being abrogated.
All arms and uniforms must be delivered up to the military, police or parish priest by a certain date, after which any person found in possession of the same will be treated as a rebel and be liable to the penalty of death. The question of amnesty is reserved for discussion until ‘peace is made’.
For the purpose of discussing peace a meeting of Dail Eireann [suppressed in September 1919] will be allowed but no ‘safe conduct’ will be granted to those members of the Dail who are wanted by the authorities.
The Partition Bill will be proceeded with…
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: While Lloyd George was initially enthusiastic about a Christmas truce with Republicans, followed by a meeting of the (suppressed) Dail, he would later back away from Clune’s initiative under pressure from the Tory ‘war party’ and the brass hats.
By January 1921 the PM was insisting on prior decommissioning as a wrecking tactic.)
Ex-Soldier Sentenced in Derry
The result of the general Court-martial in Derry at which an ex-soldier named John Burke was tried for shooting at Constable Richard McLaughlin [RIC] has been promulgated. Burke was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude.
Burke was seen firing at Constable McLaughlin, the bullets piercing his greatcoat and lodging in the padding of his tunic. The defence was an alibi.
On This Day – 11th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
19201211
Reference Date
December 11, 2020
Publication Date
Listen Along in Éamons Voice *
Summary: On This Day – 11th December 1920, Archbishop Clune’s talks with Lloyd George raised hopes of a truce, even as martial law was imposed across four southern counties. Edited by Éamon Phoenix.
Message from Sinn Féin | On This Day – 11th December 1920
THE Daily Mail says a remarkable development in the Irish negotiations took place this week.
Archbishop Clune, Perth, West Australia, an active supporter for a settlement, says the Mail had a private interview with Mr Lloyd George and conveyed to him what is in effect a message from one of the Sinn Fein leaders.
The Prime Minister was much impressed and it may be definitely stated that the prospects of a settlement are much brighter than would appear on the surface.
The Press Association learns that the conversation between the PM and Archbishop Clune may have an important bearing on the Irish truce.
Mr Lloyd George has expressed his willingness to consider every possible suggestion, particularly in relation to the extreme wing of Dail Eireann.
A further conference with the Archbishop is highly probable
Four Counties under Martial Law
MARTIAL law is to be enforced at once throughout the counties of Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
It is notified that other areas will be similarly treated ‘immediately’ on the occurrence of incidents which in the opinion of the Government would justify such action.
The effect of the Proclamation issued last night is to place the affected areas directly under the administration of the Commander in Chief, all forms of civil law being abrogated.
All arms and uniforms must be delivered up to the military, police or parish priest by a certain date, after which any person found in possession of the same will be treated as a rebel and be liable to the penalty of death. The question of amnesty is reserved for discussion until ‘peace is made’.
For the purpose of discussing peace a meeting of Dail Eireann [suppressed in September 1919] will be allowed but no ‘safe conduct’ will be granted to those members of the Dail who are wanted by the authorities.
The Partition Bill will be proceeded with…
(Eamon Phoenix editor’s note: While Lloyd George was initially enthusiastic about a Christmas truce with Republicans, followed by a meeting of the (suppressed) Dail, he would later back away from Clune’s initiative under pressure from the Tory ‘war party’ and the brass hats.
By January 1921 the PM was insisting on prior decommissioning as a wrecking tactic.)
Ex-Soldier Sentenced in Derry
The result of the general Court-martial in Derry at which an ex-soldier named John Burke was tried for shooting at Constable Richard McLaughlin [RIC] has been promulgated. Burke was found guilty and sentenced to fifteen years’ penal servitude.
Burke was seen firing at Constable McLaughlin, the bullets piercing his greatcoat and lodging in the padding of his tunic. The defence was an alibi.
On This Day – 11th December 1920
Further Reading on Irish History:
List of other On This Day columns
Other resources: National Library of Ireland Irish News CAIN Archive
On This Day is a daily column in the Irish News looking back either 50 or 100 years. The column was compiled by Dr Éamon Phoenix from the mid 1980s until autumn, 2022. The Foundation is very grateful to the Irish News for giving permission to reproduce Eamon’s columns. Funding gratefully received from Ireland’s Department of Foreign Affairs and the Magill Trust.
* The Foundation has worked hard to recreate Eamon’s distinctive voice through AI. Since this is an emerging technology, occasional imperfections may be audible.