30 APRIL 1921, Page 3

A mild flutter of interest was caused on Monday by

the report that Lord Derby had gone in disguise to Ireland last week. He told a Liverpool. audience later in the day that he had changed his spectacles and called himself " Mr. Edwards," so as to escape the newspaper reporters. He had, he said, gone on his own initiative and had had no mission from the Government. He had, however, reported. the results of his private, inquiries to the Prime Minister. " I cannot say," he added, " that I am anything but depressed with the situation, though the darkest hour is said to oome before the dawn." Lord Derby gave no further information about his visit. He probably found out that the murder-gang are still in full control of the Sinn Fein Party, and that until these criminals are caught and punished it is idle to talk of political negotiations.