Protesting against disbandment, fas the result of the Irish boundary agreement, men of A class of the Ulster Special Constabulary, includ. ing number of British ex-office at three of the five Special Belfast barracks, have struck and seized the barracks, refusing access to all comers, and have sent an ultimatum to Sir James Craig, Premier, demanding a bonus of £200 each, in default of which they refuse to surrender arms, equipment and the barracks.
Sir Richard Dawson Bates, Minister Home Affairs, says that the Go fernment's final terms are that the Paris, Dee. 18.
Various important French industry, including the and metal industries, adhere Principle to the plan of the industrialists, who are chiefly in the{ stry, and are, therefore, most, vulnerable to fluctuations of the franc, The loan would be purely a Voluntary effort, launched especial ly the proceeds of which Would form a sinking fund for the amortization of the public debt. Tt "thus hoped to avoid the necessity of a crushing: new taxation. propored by the various Finance Ministers to restore confidence in the future of the French State and finance.
The plan is in general favourably received. men will be given two-month leave on full pay, but if insubordinate they are liable to immediate dismissal and forfeiture of those benefits, The Ulster Cabinet, at a special meeting, thas authorized the Inspector-General to send as an ultimatum a notification that any disaffected specials not returning to duty and not obeying Inwful commands by December 19 will be dismissed, forfeiting aft claims to pay and allowance from December 19; but the men declare that they will stand fast until turned out.
Later.
'Though barbed wire entanglements have been erected and guards doubled at a hostel, namely, the Derry headquarters' of one of the Dec, 19.
The newspapers are gratified at the offer of the industrialists of the Nord to aid the Government to ime! prove the financial situation.
"'Lo Journal" points out thai. the} output of the industries of the Nori! is one-fifth of the entire production of France and therefore the ample of the Nord stands a. gre chance of being followed by all the industrialists of France." The turnover of French industry can be estimated. ata hundred. milliard francs and French sales abroad for the -first eleven months of 1025 amounted to. 40,780,000,000. fran Only a very small portion of this) amount would be" necessary t9, guarantee the annual payments on 2 loan of 10 milliardss—Reuter. cials, it is generally believed that the Londonderry men will finally. accept the Government's terms, while the Belfast men seem anxious negotiate an agreement with the Londonderry, Dee. 18, After a three hours' secret conference of the A Specials from all the disaffected platoons throughout Ulster, it was understood that the men have agreed to accept the Government's terms, but have appointed 4 deputation to Belfast to interview the Inspector-General with a view to inducing the Government to grant three-months" pay and allowances, Meanwhile the barricades are be-we removed, the guards on stores and equipment are being withdrawn and the men throughout Ulster ant outside Belfast are reporting to their officers to-night, so that matters are now normal,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.