THE IRISH PROBLEM.

Hokitika Guardian, 8 February 1922, Page 2

THE IRISH PROBLEM.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCL-fION IRELAND’S ATTITUDE TO ULSTER; LONDON, February 6. The issue to the Press of Sir <L Craig’s letter was followed by an important conference between Mr Lloyd George and Messrs Griffith and Collins. This was prior to a Privy Council meeting, whereat the King’s speech for the re-opening of Parliament to-morrow was approved. The official report merely states that a. conference was held in order to agree upon the procedure for giving effect to the Irish Treaty. Mr A. Griffith will remain in London;

Mr Collins returns to Ireland, but prior to his departure for home tonight, he said that he could only reiterate that the Irish Free State insisted that majorities must rule. The Irish Treaty, said Mr Collins, stood for that principle. The Irish Free State would not coerce any part of Ulster desiring to remain under the Northern Parliament, but the Free State would not allow, on the other hand, the coercion of any part of Ulster 'which desires to be included in the Irish Free State. Mr Collins concluded: “We are reasonable people. R others are reasonable, then there will be no difficulty.”

ULSTER’S CLAIM. LONDON, Feb. 6

Sir James Craig wrote to Mr Lloyd George to-night as follows:—“I have just held a meeting with those Ulster members of the Cabinet who are mow in London to consider the boundaries question. Since the correspondence began on the subject of the Irish settlement, we have relied on the following sentence in your letter of July 20th., to Mr de Valera;— The settlement must allow for full recognition of existing powers, and {recognition, of existing powers, and privileges, of the Parliament and Government of Northern Ireland, which cannot be abrogated except by their own consent.”

Sir James Craig added .-—“Although the necessity for our giving a. final derision on behalf of tie Government of Northern Ireland does not arise until our Parliament votes itself out of the Irish Free State yet as a result of. our deliberations to-day, I have to inform you that we adhere throughout to tills principle, as laid down by yourself, and we cannot consent to any alteration in the Ulster boundary, except by a mutual agreement, failing which, we consider that, in respect to any territory in dispute, the boundary is to stand as defined by the ‘Government of Ireland Act, 1920.’ I am sure you will agree with me on the importance of preventing any further misunderstanding. Accordingly, I am sending a copy of this letter to the press.” Later, at Mr Lloyd George’s request Sir James Craig saw the Prime Minister and confirmed the terms of his letter. He declared there could) be no going back thereon.

BLACK AND TANS. LONDON, Feb. 6. All the Black and Tans have now left Ireland. They are being discharged prior to the 31st of March. Every effort is being made to absorb these men. Many offers of positions for them in Colonial Police Forces are being received. ULSTER HOSTILITY. LONDON, Feb. 8. Feeling in Belfast is against the British Government, and it is becoming most bitter. Widespread publicity was given today to a statement which Sir James Craig is reported to have made privately, that he liope<l for the defeat of Mr Lloyd George’s Government, and that over the boundaries question. Meanwhile the Belfast commercial travellers report that the anti-Ulster boycott continues in tlie South 'q.pd West of Ireland,