IRISH AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 10 December 1925, Page 1

IRISH AFFAIRS

[Australia it X.Z. Cable Association.] BO UXDA B Y Q UESTION. DEBATE IN COMMONS. LONDON, Dee. 8. In the House jof Commons. Air Baldwin moved the second reading of the Irish Continuation of Agreement Bill. He said lie was convinced that whatever body attempted to deal with the boundary, it would have been beyond the power of mortal man to come to a decision acceptable to both sides. The Border Commission’s report would never see the light, but it would he hidden away in the archives. If there bad been no settlement, there would not have eeeu chaos in Ireland, because the decision of the Commission would not have been acceptable to either side and it would have left a sense of injustice.

The agreement, said .Ur Baldwin, provided that the Irish Free Stale would pay compensation for the material damage done since the year, 1018, and also would repay to Britain any sums she has paid, or is liable to pay, under the previous agreement. which amounted to something like five millions. The settlement had enabled the North of Ireland to place the police force on a more normal footing, while Britain's obligation in maintaining (hat force would tease after the pre--on I financial year. The agreement loft unchanged Britain's obligation towards those who .-iilfored injury since the truce. For tlm lirst time in. history, said Mr Baldwin, they laid Irishmen agreeing among themselves as to what the border should be. Up to the. present, the boundary, most of which was an accident of history, had been fraught with terrible consequences. Sir John Alariott (Conservative .Member for York) said that as be understood the agreement, the House, in return for the Free State making a rash repayment of lour millions, plus half a million bonds, to Irish loyalists, was asked to remit claims amounting to 100 millions. Sir \Y. 11. Davison (Conservative Member for South Kensington) said that while the Free State was relieved of its share of the burden. lister already bad paid eighteen millions. Air Winston Churchill (Chancellor of the Exchequer) replying to Sir \Y. H. Davison, said that on a balance Ulster bad not paid much more than one million. He said it would have been impossible for them to approach this matter from the point of view of extracting the last farthing, irrespective of the consequences to the Free State. Afr J. 11. Thomas said that the British labourites hoped the settlement would be final, and be appealed to bith sides to release their political prisoners. Though many feared a new burden would be placed oil British taxpayers. lie believed that all should accent a settlement, the ground fur which had been prepared by the late I.about' Cabinet. Mr Fisher said the Liberals welcomed the Bill as the basis of a reconciliation between the Irish and the British.

GENERAL ELECT TON POSSIBLE. LONDON, Dee. 8. The Dad Eireanti adjourned the debate uii the Boundary Agreement. The Labour Leader Mr Tom Johnston. urged the Government not to allow Hie issue to be decided without the. direct referendum of a general election. A commotion was caused when Professor O’Sullivan was speaking in favour of the Bill. A man in the gallery shouted: “You are a liar!” The interrupter was removed. If is unofficially stated that the Irish Republican members of the Dai I may attend the Dail in order to vote Hie Cosgrave Government out of office on Hie ground that the Border Nationalists, who expected to come into the Free HI ate. have been betrayed, but this will only precipitate a general election, wherein the Cosgrave f!nvernment prohnhly would have an over "helming majority. SECRECY OF THE REPORT. LONDON. Dee. 8. To the House of Commons, Afr Baldwin made a special pninl of the fact that he alone of the three Prime Afinjsters saw the Irish boundary map and the report, of the Commission. Sir .T. Craig and President Cosgrave. for reasons of their own, which be fully appreciated. did not think fit to see the doeumen! s, nor would they, in any rase. As a matter of fact, the map and statements that are being published, ure far from accurate.