The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, DEC. 20th, 1921. THE IRISH PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1921, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, DEC. 20th, 1921. THE IRISH PROBLEM

I That the Irish problem is one of I complexities is evidenced by the agelong term over which it has been a i perturbing factor. Many great political careers have been wrecked in the attempted efforts to “settle” the issues. In to-day’s paper we reprint one of Mr Lloyd George’s masterful reviews of the great question of the , day. The speech has particular reference to the Irish pence conference, and although it dealt with a situation in advance of an agreement being reached by the Conference, it reviews circumstances and thoughts which are to-day just ns uppermost in the minds of the people. The occasion of the speech was a censure motion by Colonel Gretton which was in almost similar terms to the motion moved by him last week when traversing the peace terms. Mr Lloyd George’s speech evoked the greatest interest, the Commons boing crowded to excess, and the censure motion was eventually defeated by 439

to 43, a majority of 396. Last wool Colonel Gretton’s motion was defentci by 401 to 58 majority being 343. Readini the Prime Minister’s speech it wil be realised lie spoke in very plain terms and made the position clear. Tin 2 choice for the country was betweer war and peace. The military measures so far as they had been taken in Tre land were not on the scale of a war but they were akin to a skirmish ii • force. Those military measures line not been successful, but that did no! mean defeat, for the warlike resource!' of the country had not been brough! into operation. Before going to tha direful extreme, the Government very - rightly paused--paused in the interest) of humanity. The Government had tr choose between adopting military measures of a sterner kind—which wouh: 5 he necessary in the long run -for it would he war to the knife; or attempt- ■ ill:; to make jienee. This choice was made at. a time when unsuccessful at the military measures may have, been, the Sinn Reiners were sick and tired of them. The Government acted at the right moment, which seems to have been struck at the time when the King’s speech at llelfast opened the j way for negotiations which both sides j wore mutunlfy agreed to soldo for nctjion. Without the attainment of peace, war methods would follow, the rkirmishing and parade of force wohild ! ’■ml and force would assert itself. The ; southern jiortion of Ireland would have to lie treated as an enemy country and sanguinary repression would have followed. It would have been a big “drive”- from Dublin to Cape Clear. Fortunately the extremists of both sides were not able to conspire to so dread » method to settle, the Irisfh, problem. The conference ran its course and as the cable news told us “an agreement was reached.” That agreement has now to be ratified. At the time of writing there is uncertainty as to when and how it will be ratified', but we have too much faith in human nature to believe that the agreement will be torn up and thrown into the waste paper basket. As Mr Lloyd George said in one of his pregnant senfences: “If concessions will bring an honourable peace that will strengthen the Ehipire, we will hazard all on the possibility of achieving it.” That is the issue to-day as it was when the thought was so cogently expressed. The time for settlement is at hand. The world awaits the settlement with lasted breath. May it come quickly and he to the glory of all concerned.