Archbishop's Peace Rejected

The Free State has rejected the latest, and what many observers considered the most promising move for peace in Ireland. Archbishop Harty of Cashel, in Munster County, pro posed that an immediate truce be made, that the Republicans dump all arms under pledge that they be handed over to whichever party wins the next election. He pointed out that the Republicans would thus be spared the humiliation of surrender, and yet peace would be fully restored. Tom Barry, irregular leader, was friendly to the proposal. A motion in favor of its adoption was introduced into the Dail Eireann. But Kevin O'Higgins, Free State Minister of Home Affairs, rejected the Archbishop's plan. " There can be no truce on the basis of the proposals of the Archbishop of Cashel. There must be complete and unqualified acceptance of the right of the people to decide all issues arising in the politics of the country. The weapons of war must be placed in the effective custody of the people's representatives. That is the horse sense of the matter."