The Morning Post of Monday published a copy of a
notice
which is being sent by Sinn Feiners to shopkeepers in Ireland. The paper is headed " Belfast Trade Boycott." The Sinn Fein Committee informs the recipient that he has been reported as having had dealings with Belfast.
" We wish to point out to you that the following traders' excuses will not avail you : 1st, that the boycott does not operate in your district ; 2nd, that goods must be stocked to moot the public demand ; 3rd, that similar goods cannot be obtained elsewhere ; 4th, that traders have to take what wholesalers supply ; 5th, that the quantity stocked is very small ; 0th, personal reasons."
The circular goes on to explain that all Belfast firms " without exception " are boycotted, and that goods passed through Belfast, though they had not been manufactured there, are also boy- cotted. It ends with these words :-
" You are now hereby notified, that any further infringement, technical or otherwise, by you of the boycott, will place your name on the Black List. The boycott will be enforced until employment in Belfast is thrown open to all without distinction of creed or politics, and organized outrage on the Belfast public ceases."
All this comes naturally from the party whose liaison officer
(Mr. O'Duffy) openly announced that he had placed his gunmen " at points of vantage in Belfast.," that he had ordered them " to cease fire " when he thought a suitable time for doing so
had come, and that if the loyalists of the North did not submit themselves to the will of Dublin the .! screw " would be put on to them and " lead " would be used against them.
