THE IRISH PROBLEM

Hokitika Guardian, 1 June 1922, Page 3

THE IRISH PROBLEM

STATEMENT TO COMMONS. BY HON W. CHURCHILL. AUSTRALIAN AN I) N.Zi tIABI/B ASSOCIATION. (Received this day at 9.C0 a.m.) LONDON, May 31. In the Commons Hon W. Churchill stated no one disputed that the wish ol the Irish people was reconciliation, which gave her freedom and a place in the world. Up to ten ■ days ago, the leaders of the Provisional Government appeared to have resolved to march steadily forward through a free election and to'do their best to put down, it necessary by force, all armed persons who tried to prevent this, but the recent agreement struck directly at the pio- __ visions of the Treaty. The consequences of the Collins-De Valera agreement were very serious. It seemed probable that the Irish people would not be able to give free expression to their views, it De Valera or other Ministers refused to sign the declaration prescribed m the Treaty, it would break the Treaty and the Imperial Government reserved liberty of action, whether m regard to resumption of powers transferred, or re occupation of the territory as they may think appropriate and P r °P° rtl ™ a * gravity of the breach. The Impenai Government would allow no deviation from the strict letter of the spmt of the Treaty. The De Valera agreement rendered the hope of co-operation between north and south a double difficult!. I t had driven the parties further apart than ever before. Mr Churchill said he stood to-day in the presence of a verj grave, incident. Two townships on one frontier lmd been occupied by Repuhh -— ~ can troops. Collins and >r t pudinted the action in the . L ■ manner. He asked the House not to press him as to the measures taken to (tent with this violation of Northern . tef'HtOt'V.. The British .signatories had rin OtWirtiiiiitv of examining the constltulL of Hid Irisl. Free S'a c. T .oir examination’ at tlnS stage whs ( onti len tinl, but after Wintsun the House would lie in a position to take a more s e rc - i„g view of the situation, than possible at the present time. It the Treaty were broken by any act, if election were not a reasonable one 01 had an effective validity, if constitution as it emerged from the liament were so amended as not tci hd fil the Treaty then the Imperial Gover merit would be perfectly free to with hold consent. He did not believe members of the Provisional Governmen vTere acting in-bad faith, or working hand in glove with Republican opponent, with intent 1-v act of treachery to betray British confidence or Ireland s S °MrAsqußh said lie had I'ym.ed with unqualified admiration to Mr Chinch Ts statement. The situation was very disquieting. Only by faitll could they arrive at an Insl. solu •‘cMlins and Griffiths who listened to the statement in the Commons mtci viewed, said Mr Churchill gave a fair statement of the position. LONDON, May <M. Hon. W. Churchill stated in 11,0 Commons that if do Valera or anj other Minister refused to sign the ylecataratlon prescribed by the 1 reaty, Government reserved the right to re- , sumo the powers transferred or to re- . occupy the territory they think necessary. They would not allow the slightest deviation from the Treaty. , THE IRISH ELECTION. (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. The Irish election promises to he most interesting. Business and professional men in Dublin have formed an election committee for the purpose of nominating candidates in commercial and professional interests. Labom, j farmers and ratepayers candidates arc c also in the field. ‘