THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1921, Page 1

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

I AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. GABLE ASSOCIATION. I * | CORRESPONDENCE PUBLISHED, j LONDON, Dec 13. I The Irish correspondence between -Mr | Lloyd George and Sir Janies Craig re- | lati'vo to a settlement, was published ( to-day. \ Mr Lloyd George, writing on Nevem- ! her 10th, invited the Ulster Cabinet “to j confer regarding final proposals for an j Trish settlement.” ■ These proposals were based on tne ] following conditions: — Firstly, on Irish allegiance to the j Throne, and etjttal partnership of the Free States with the Empire. Secondly, on the provision of naval i securities. ! Thirdly, it was proposed that Nortlii crn Ireland is to retain all the power | which was conferred on it by the Home ■ Rule Act. | Fourthly, the unity of Ireland was to lie recognised, and there was to be i the establishment of an All-Ireland • Parliament. ! Mr Lloyd George wrote: “Northern Ireland, will no doubt, see many dangers in a settlement on these lines. It ; may be objected for instance, that tho ; patronage involved by the various Bub- ’ lit: Departments might 1* unfairly exercised on religious and other grounds. Although Ulster would retain control of its education and kindred subjects, it might he feared the Irish Government would ho in a position to with-hold tho funds necessary to defray administrative cost. Moreover, it might bo feared that if an All-Irelaml Parliament were to control the import and export trade, the industries of Ulster would he imperilled. His Majesty’s Government recognises the force, of these objecti ms. that they desire a consultation with yourself and your Cabinet as to how they can best he met. Tho Government is aware of the objections that Northern Irishmen feel to participation on any terms, in an All-Ireland Parliament, and have , therefore examined some of the alter natives and their consequences.” I Mr Lloyd George concluded by asking tbe Ulster Government to enter a ; conference, without making any preliminary conditions. j Sir .Jas Craig, on November 17th. re- ! plied, insisting on tbe desirability of | granting Ulster tho status of a separate • Dominion, rather than “placing Ulster | under Sinn Fein.” He. wrote: “If : Ulster is forced to leave the United : Kingdom against tbe wishes' of her people, she will dosin' to be left in a j position to make her own fiscal and her own international policy, and to retain British traditions, ideals, language, and 1 currency.” | Sir jas Craig’s attack of influenza ; then intervened. i Mr Lloyd Ceore on November IStli. ! suggested an informal talk after Sir ■ J. Craig had recovered. ! Air Lloyd George on December sth i wrote enclosing a copy of the Irish | settlement terms. i In a covering letter, lie pointed out that the Government of Northern Trei land had been invited to choose two alternatives. The first was the retaining of all its existing powers. “She will thus enter the Irish Free State with such additional guarantees as may be arranged at the conference. As the second alternative. Ulster will retain ! her present powers, but in respect to all | the matters not already to be delegated. | she will share the lights and the olilii .nations of Great. Britain. Tn the litter I case we feel unable fo defend the exist--1 ing boundary, which must he subject to I a revision on one side or the other, by j a Boundary Commission.” Mr Uovd Georg© continued that their study bad convinced them that grave ili!licu|tics would lie raised for 'both parts of Ireland if the jurisdiction over tin' reserved subjects were not I conferred upon a common nuth city, lie pointed out these difficulties in connection with the danger of Customs barriers between tbe North and South anil also with tbe recasting of the financial proposals. Mr Lloyd George proceeds: “It is the essence of Dominion Status that the contributions of a. Dominion towards Imperial charges shall he voluntary. If Northern Ireland is part of the Irish State, then its contributions to tho Imperial charges will be voluntary. On the other band, if the South of Irehiud became a Dominion, while the North remained part of the United Kingdom, and had still its representation, in the Imperial Parliament, it is clear that Ulster would have to bear its proportionate share in all fmperia! burdens.” It must lie evident (ho says’) that the people of Britain are making important sacrifices for a settlement in otTciug to forego any right to expect from Ireland any contribution to future Imperial expenses. Tt is impossible to .Uni with this question adequately tn eorresnondence. Mr Lloyd Geoige again invited the Northern Ministry to confer with llu* British Cabinet. hh -I. ( lit in, leplving on November 11. expressed surprise that the question of allegiance shunlil be include! in the proposals to he discussed, inasmuch as Mr Lloyd George himself stated it was not open to discussion, lie continued that the Government of Northern Ireland considered that the allegiance ol .Southern Ireland was a matter testing w ith the British Minis -

Sir .1. Craig further say-: ''Nevertheless, lb,, loyal po'iula'ion of Northern Ireland would be glad to Ice! assured regard'll,.; the iieriralieu! allegiame of the South of Lelaml in jlKing. and that, its enduring part ieipat ion in the partnership of llie Kmpiie would be no longer qnextioned.'' lie continued: "An A.lh I relniel Parliament, liowever, cannot, under lie

<■ -isiti ni; eircilinsiames be aicepteil bv Noitbern-Ireland. Ulster's delest 'tioii thereof is in no degree dominated bv its. buying the local institutions conferred under the Act of 1020. Tin* North of Ireland is convinced no paper safeguaids would protect them against nialadiiiiuistration. This objection to participation in an All-Ireland Parliament lias been materially strengthened by recent events.” .He eontineiid; "For these reasons, the Coveriiment of llie North of Ireland feel compelled to state that any discussion will be fruitless, unless the British Ministry shall consent to with-

draw its proposals of an All-1 rcluml Parliament.” Sir J. Craig then goes on to suggest ' that an alternative which the British ■Ministers did not appear to have considered was that the reserved powers in Ireland, instead of being entrusted to any common authority, should he conferred on the Governments of Southern and Northern Ireland within the areas of their respective jurisdiction. This might, he said, involve northern 1 Ireland in losing her representation in the Imperial Parliament, hut this was a lesser evil than the inclusion of l 1ster in an All-Ireland Parliament. Mr Lloyd George, replying on November 14, objects to Sir J. Craig’s counter proposals—that Southern and Northern Ireland should he constituted two separate dominions. “In our judgment,” he writes, “this is indefensible. The British Cabinet is oppos- j ed to it, on the ground or broad, Imperial principles. The creation ot two Dominions in Ireland, one numbering 20 counties, and other six enmities, would fundamentally change the existing system of Imperial organise- . turn. The status of the dominions is j based upon the gradual amalgamation of large territories and scattered cot unics into natural units ui sell goven- , meat.” j