AN IRISH SETTLEMENT

Hokitika Guardian, 7 December 1921, Page 2

AN IRISH SETTLEMENT

INTENSE OUTSIDE INTEREST Particulars ol Agreement.

PARTICULARS OF SETTLEMENT. AN AGREEMENT REACHED. (Press Association. —Extraordinary) I.UNDON, Dec 6. An Irish agreement has been reached. AU.KGiAXC’E FORMULA SETTLED. LONDON, December o. The Trish Conference in London today terminated at 1.20 p.m. A member of the British Cabinet informed a that an agreement had been loathed. He stated the terms of it would be publicly communicated to-day. The Conference, lie added, had agreed regarding a new allegiance formula. The Government has already submitted to Sir James Craig the text of the agreement. The agreement provides for mutual oonce*sions. The Sinn Feiners are stated to ho confident that the terms will be acceptable to the South of Ireland. Mr Llovd Geoitge stated that he does not anticipate difficulty with ro.'aril to Ulster, whose lights are fully safeguarded. The King gave an hour’s audience to Mr Lloyd George in connection with Irish affairs. HOW CONFERENCE WAVERED. INTENSE OUTSIDE INTEREST. LONDON. December 6.

There was yesterday last minute ‘•peace or war’” doiifercnee between the British and the Sinn Fein dele* gates. The Conference was still proceeding at midnight, When the Sinn Feiners left Downing Street at seven o’clock, they took with them Mr Lloyd George’s last word. They did so for the purpose of giving it private consideration and discussion.

Thu Conference was timed to resume at ten o’clock. At that hour, the British representatives all assembled, awaiting the Irishmen’s return. The Irishmen did not arrive, however until eleven twenty. The proceedings were drastically secuut.

There was a large crowd in Downing Street and it included hundreds of British and also American journalists. 'l|hey had assembled ill the vicinity hoping to lfcai- some chance word regarding the result. There was a destroyer held in readiness to convey the British Government's proposal to Sir James Craig by the appointed time.

11 i E LAND D ETERMIX ED. LONDON, December G. Besides Mr tie Valera's so-called bellicose speeches, which are reported to he causing gravest disquietude in even moderate ginn Fein circles the Irish Bulletin (Sinn Fein's official organ), continues to discuss the position. It does so without any ambiguity. The “Irish Bulletin” says: “For the lirst time in centuries our armed revolt has succeeded -. Hut the Irish people are aware that their eventual military defeat is probable. They prefer the methods of peace and of the opposition of will to will; hut if a resumption of war is farced oil them—if Britain recommences her assaults on our national institutions—lreland will return to such war in their defence. Her manhood will be glad of any renewed opportunity of proving their faithfulness to the traditions of their race, Britain may be confident ol her ultimate success.. It will lie an illusory success. Britain can do nothing new ! She must use weapons such as we have already broken in her hands. The soti| of our people winnot be attacked byBritish arms. It is in the soul of hei people that Ireland and her freedom live and have their indestructible bo-

DE VALERA’S CAUTION. LONDON, December 5.

The Sinn Fein President, Jlr Ean.on de Valera, on the occasion of his receiving the freedom of the city of Limerick said : “The Irish would remember Limerick as the city of the violated Treaty when they had to come to decide if they could trust certain peolde.” , Mr de Valera then reviewed the Li-I Volunteers. He urged them to maintain strict obedience and discipline. They should he prepared, he said, to resist the invader, as their forefathers had done.

A SETTLEMENT. CONFERENCE COMES TO TERMS.

PARLIAMENT TO MEET.

vHe-eived This Day at 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 0. Cabinet unanimously approved the draft of the Irish agreement. Parliament meets next week. Tlie “Central News Agency” states that fct the Irish agreement, the promise of allegiance is quite definite. There is no big point of principle involved. The solution arrived at is quite satisfactory as regards the Crown, and association with the Empire.

SETTLING THE POINTS. OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. (Received This Day r.t 8 30 a.m.’, LONDON. Dec G.

The Australian Press Association understands the Conference was a long series of discussions, the 'delegates sometffnes separating in order to consider new proposals and then reuniting and settling the points raised, one by one. Bargaining centred chiefly round the principle of allegiance and partition. Lord Birkenhead being a dominating personality in this phase. Government proposed a formula of allegiance with which Sinn Feiners were strikingly at variance. Government put forward a second proposal of a personal oath of allegiance to the British Empire, King and Irish Free' State, from every member Of the new Irish Legislature. This was tvnrmlv discuss, ed for an hour and a half.

J list before midnight the Sitlii FeiiierS presented their own proposals for a personal oath of allegiance to the British Commonwealth of Nations and Irish Free State, and a personal de* ehiration acknowledging the King as head of the Commonwealth: This with one important modfccatifirl the delegates finally, agreed tb; CASE FOR ULSTER. COPY SENT TO CRAIG. PARLIAMENT AND ULSTER TO RATIFTi

(Received. This Day at 9.40 a.m.j LONDON, Dec 6: Government put the Lister ease verv strongly. The Sinn Feiners instructions "were to demand a time limit for I'lster doming in, periods of fire to seven years being Government proved immovable, but through Collins good offices, an understanding was arrived at and the! delegates signed the agreement, shook hand and depart-

ed. , A copy was taken to Sir Janie* Cl'nig by Hon Lloyd George’s secretary, travelling by special train and a destroyer.

Lloyd George is arranging to summon Parliament immediately.

On the general question, Ireland will he given a Free State status, which means that instead Of the British Government binding them by provisions, they are trusted to work out their own destiny. Ulster will l>e free to exercise the right to maintain the existing status, but-will not receive any more than it has under the present status if it breaks away under the contracting Out provisions. Ulster will ge afforded every facility to reach Bn with the Sinn Fein Government re» garding internal affairs. Both sides at the Conference agreed to recommend the new scheme to the respective Cabinets with a view to expediting acceptance in order to create peace at the earliest opportunity. The main settlement between Sinn Fein and Britain will not bo affected by the refusal on the part of Ulster. Moreover the Premier’s declaration that Ulster will not he coerced, will not be departed from in the letter or in spirit. Any settlement must have the approval of tiie British and Ulster Parliaments. ULSTER’S POSITION. ,'Received This Day at 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec 6. It is understood the new settlement applies to Ulster unless she, within one month, contracts herself out of it.

Washington Conference.

.rii.iii cue a pec. a 1 Representative of the i.u..u l'ress Association.) REPARATIONS. •Jc.encn xius Day at- S a.m.) LONDON, Dec. t>. Sir R. Horne speaking at Manchester pointed out that Britain never included in the Budget any reparations receipts. Germany was now seeking delay in payment, and the Allies must settle the point unitedly in resilisatioß *~ that the collapse of Germany would be a misfortune for the world.

FRENCH PAPER’S COMMENT. ,M- tetved This Dav at 8 a.m.) PARIS, Dec 6.

The “Temps” commenting on the Anglo-Japanese agreement, declares anything which consolidates peace is agreeable to Freuchmen. The Pacific affiance will be welcomed by the French but the “Temps” is astonished that America, which was unable to ratify a Treaty of guarantee for France, because it implied foreign responsibilities is able to contemplate the conclusion of an alliance which is connected with the most embarassing foreign problems. The “Temps” is likewise painfully surprised. in view of her possessions in ludo-China, that there is apparently no place for France in the Alliance.

(QUESTION OF ECONOMICS. NEW YORK, Dec 5.

Lord Riddel, interviewed, said the Armament Conference was convened for certain specific purposes. The question of economics was not among them. The British delegations brought no economic experts. 1 neither see how nor believe the question of Allied debt can be discussed at Washington.

CHIN A-J AP AGH EE.M ENT. .Received This Day at 8 a.in.) WASHINGTON, Dub 1

An official joint statement, has been issued by Japanese and Chinese delegations. Shidehara declared Japan will renounce all preferential rights in regard to foreign assistance in persons, capital and material, stipulated in the Chino-German Treaty of 1898. Japan lias deckled that the maritime customs at Tsingtau he made an integral part of the Chinese maritime customs, with the under standing that the Chinese Government recommend the InspectorGeneral of Customs to first permit Japanese traders at Tsingtau to communicate with the customs in. the Japanese language; second in the selection of the staff oH Tsingtau customs, consideration be given to the divers needs of the trade of thejrort. With these two understandings Japan waived all privileges previously enjoyed by Germans to maritime customs- at Tsingtau. A provisional agreement between Japan and China relative to Tsingtao customs was made in August 1915, to lie automatically abrogated when the above decision comes into effect.

A LULL IN OPERATIONS. (Received This Day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Dei- 6. American administrative quarters spoke appreciatively of the present lull. They said matters have been going along too fast, and it is good for ,_a pause, to take stock. We must remember that men thinking for nations should not. be under pressure or flustered with a feeling that things must lie done by a given time. Great policies are living settleß, which would continue for long periods. It was impos sililo to make history and articles for the newspapers at the same time. Furthermore it was useful to allow the people with different points of view, time to consider the position and see where the approaches to each others viewpoint could he made. Italian semi-official opinion expressed to-day that in the event of a consortium lioinjr, continued, Italy is willing and anxious to participate in anything making for the better financial econ? omio condition of China.