IRISH TREATY.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17470, 2 June 1922, Page 7

IRISH TREATY.

TERMS MUST BE OBSERVED. CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATION. (By Ctble—Pm» Aa»oci»tion—Copyri|kt.) (Au*t:fcli»n and N.Z. Cable Association.) LONDON, May 31. In the House of Commons Mr Winston Churchill said that no one disputed the fact that the wish of the Irish people was for reconciliation, which would give Ireland freedom and a place in the world. Up to ten days ago the leaders of the Provisional Goxerament appeared to have resolved to march steadily forward through a free election, and to do their best to put down, by force if neeesrary, all armed persons who tried to prevent this, but the recent agreement struck directly at the provisions of the treaty. The consequences of the Coilins-de Valera agreement were very serious. It seemed probable that the Irish people would not be able to give free expression to their views. If Mr do Valer.i or other Ministers refused to j-ign the declaration prescribed in the treaty, it would break the treaty, and the Imperial Government reserved to itself liberty of action in regard to the resumption of the powers transferred to the Irish Government or the reoccupation of any territory which they might think appropriate and proportionate to the gravity of the breach. The Imperial Government would allow of no deviation from the strict letter and spirit of the treaty. The Collinsde Valera agreement rendered the hope of co-operation between North and South Ireland doubly difficult. It had driven the parties further apart than they ever were before. Mr Churchill said that he stood that day in the presence of a very grave incident. Two townships on the frontier had been occupied by Republican troops. .Messrs Collins and Griffith had repudiated their action very strongly. He askI ed the House not to press him as to the measures which had been taken to deul with this violation of the Northern territory. The British signatories had had an opportunity of examining the constitution of the Irish Free State. Their examination at this stage was confidential, but after Whitsuntide the House would be in a position to take a more searching (view of the situation than was possible at the present time. If the treaty were broken by any act, if the election were not a reasonable one or did not have effective validity, and if the constitution as it emerged from the Provisional Parliament were so amended as not to fulfil the treaty, then the Imperial Government would be perfectly free to withhold its consent. He did not believe that the members of the Provisional Government were acting in bad faith, or that they were working hand in glove with their Republican opponents with intent, by an act of treachery, to betray British confidence or Ireland's good name

Mr Asquith said that he had listened with unqualified admiration to Mr Churchill'B statement. The situation was very disquieting. Only by forbearance and faith could they arrive at a solution. Messrs Collins and Griffith, who listened to the statement in the House, said, in an interview, that Mr Churchill had given a fair statement of the position. CONSIDERING THE SITUATION. ULSTER PREMIER SUMMONED. (Received June Ist, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. Sir James Craig,, Premier of Ulster, accompanied by Lord Londonderry, arrives in London to-morrow on the invitation of the Imperial Government, to confer regarding the situation. Sir James Craig accepted the invitation on condition that he should not be asked to meet the Southern representatives. TROOPS IN DUBLIN. REASON FOR RETENTION. (Received June Ist, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. Mr Churchill, in the House of Commons, replying to a question why troops were kept in Dublin, said they were kept in case of an attempt to set up a Republic, in which case it was the intention of the Government to hold Dublin as one of the essential centres. Captain Craig said he never had listened to a stutement "more pathetic or hopeless. The Collins-de Vaieia pact was a gross violation of the Treaty, and the Government's "attitude towards it again one of surrender. Mr J. R. Clynes said he was satisfied that the establishment of a Republic meant the beginning of a state of civil war, the end of which none could foresee. WARFARE ON THE BORDER. (Received June Ist, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. lighting at Strabane was desperate all day. Snipers occupy the house-tops. The streets are deserted, and the residents are fleeing in hundreds. CROWN FORCES v. GUNMEN. ENCOUNTERS IN BELFAST. (Received June Ist, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. Fighting in Belfast has been incessant between the Crown forces and gunmen. Following the attempted assassination of Constables Roulston and Campbell, who were dangerously wounded, a riot developed in which four people were shot dead and at least eight seriously wounded. The mob broke into> Boyd street and Peter's Place, and set fire to houses, which were burned out. Firing continued in Belfast until late in the evening. Nine people were killed and seventeen wounded. It is stated that nearly all were Roman

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Catholics. Special constables in Whippet cars, using machine-guns, swept several crowded streets. After the first stampede, a large area .became no man's land.. The residents rushed indoors and took refuge in back rooms. PERSECUTION IN THE SOUTH. (Received June Ist, 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, June 1. The Irish Provisional Government has written to the British Cabinet regretting that a number of law-abiding citizens have been obliged to flee from their homes in Southern Ireland, under threat of violence. The Provisional I Government is willing to accept liabil- ; ity for expenditure on providing relief in Great Britain for such cases. DISCUSSION IN THE LORDS. LORD SALISBURY CRITICISED. (By Cable— Press Associationr-CopyiigibJ.l (Australian and N.&. Cable Association.) (Received June Ist, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. Lord Salisbury raised the Irish question in the House of Lords. He said we need not think any more about the opinion of the civilised world, because .in dealing with Ireland England had shown the last word in conciliation. Lord Birkenhead said Lord Salisbury was a confident critic who told the Government of the mistakes they made; yet in the last seven anxious years he never had made a single constructive suggestion. If the Irish Government did not carry out its obligations and a crisis arrived, the resources of civilisation would be found not to be exhausted, and the Government would closely explore every contingency. THE IRISH ELECTIONS. MANY CANDIDATES IN THE PIELD. (Beuter'a Telegrams.) LONDON, May 31. The Irish elections promise to be &< most interesting business. Professional men i'h \ Dublin have formed an election committee for tho purpose of nominating Candidates in the commercial and professional interests. Labour, farm-! trs' antl ratepayers' candidates are also in the field.