The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20th., 1922. THE IRISH TREATY.

Hokitika Guardian, 26 October 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20th., 1922. THE IRISH TREATY.

It will ho a thousand pities if the Irish treaty is alloc ted at all seriously by the political shuffling ot the cards at Home as a consequence of the ultraG'onscrvative move to attain lower. Ireland needs the adoption of the treaty very badly. We have first hand information on that point in the remarks of Mr J. J. McGrath, himself an exCoaster. who lately returned from a special trip to Ireland where he attended a conference of the Self-Determina-tion League. On his returned to Wellington lately, asked his views regarding the position in Ireland, Mr McGrath said the best service that could be rendered to Ireland at present "as to say as little as possible, as those responsible for the Government had an extremely difficult task. The great majority of the people were unquestionable in favour of the treaty with England and wanted peace. The Irish Government had to liegin its government of Ireland without any army or police force to preserve order and enforce its decisions. At the time of his visit they had got together, as a volunteer Free State army, a line hodv of young men, physically as he had ever looked on. They were equipped with , arms and munitions purchased hy the Irish Government from England, and had also enrolled and were training a body of civil police. There was no doubt at all that the Irish Government was absolutely loyal to the treaty and woidd see that ils provisions were properly carried out. Neither l)e Vale:a nor his lieutenant Kiskitie Childers had any substantial following in Ireland. When considering the Irish position it should not be forgotten that during the terrible period Ireland had gone through since the recognition by England of the Irish Government, there had been neither an army nor a police force in Ireland. Unfortunately, no restrictions appeared to lie placed on entrance into Ireland. The i gaols ol the country had been emptied j of criminals and besides this ndvantage has undoubtedly been taken by criminals of other countries to flock where the opportunities were so great. It would seem now, Mr McGrath con- , tinned, to have been wise had the British army been kept in Ireland, and | the Royal Irish Constabulary not dis- j banded until the Irish Government ! had a disciplined army and policy force | that met with the approval of the , Trisli people ready to take their place. ! These two bodies were established now. 1 and the Government would, in his opinion, rapidly restore order in, and prosperity to. Ireland. From these ex- j pressions of opinion it is clear that the j British Government has been attempting all along to do the light tiling to bring peace and tranquility to Ireland. The tribute to the British forces hitherto stationed in Ireland is worthy of note, emphasising the justice of British rule wherever put in force. It will be a thousand pitios now if by any jugg- I ling of the political fortunes of the ! United Kingdom, the affairs of Tie- j land which are in such a fair way of i settlement, should be at all jeopardised. On this score alone, it is vorv regrettable that Mr Lloyd George did i not have the opportunity of seeing ! through the compact which his own ! foresight and tolerance were no doubt largely responsible for. I