PEACE FOR IRELAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 2365, 8 December 1921, Page 2

PEACE FOR IRELAND.

AGREEMENT WITH SINN FEIN,

London, Dee. 5

The King gave an hour’s audience to Mr Lloyd George in connection with the Irish affairs.

London, Dec. 6. Agreement lias been reached on the Irish question. Cabinet has unanimously approved the-draft agreement. Parliament meets next week.

The Australian Press Agency understands that the Conference was a long series of discussions, the delegates sometimes separating in order to. discuss the new proposals, and then reuniting and settling points raised one by one. The bargaining centred chiefly round the principle of allegiance and partition, Lord Birkenhead being the dominating personality in this phase. The Government proposed a formula of allegiance with which the Sinn Fciners were strikingly at variance. The Government put forward a second proposal, of a personal oath of allegiance to the British. Empire, the King, and the Irish Free State from every member of the new Irish Legislature. This was warmly discussed for an hour and a-half. Just before midnight the Sinn Fciners presented their own proposals for a personal oath of allegiance to the British Commonwealth of Nations and the Irish Free State, and a personal declaration acknowledging the King as the head of the Commonwealth. On this, with an Unimportant modification, the delegates finally agreed. The Government put Ulsetr’s case very strongly. The Sinn Feiners’ instructions were to demand a time limit for Ulster coming in. Periods of five and seven years were mentioned, but the Government proved immovable. Finally, through Mr Michael Collins’ good offices an understanding was arrived at, and the delegates signed the agreement, shook hands, and departed. A copy was taken to Sir James Craig by Mr Lloyd George’s secretary In - special train and destroyer. Air Lloyd George is arranging to summon Parliament immediately.

On general questions Ireland will be given the status of a Free State, which- means that instead of the British Government binding the Trish people by provisions, they aro trusted to work out their own destiny. Ulster will be free to exercise her right to maintain her existing status, but she will not receive any more than she has under her present status. If she breaks away under the contracting-out provisions, Ulster'will be afforded every facility to reach an agreement with the Sinn Fein Government regarding internal affairs. Both sides of the Conference agreed to recommend the new scheme to their respective Cabinets with the view to expediting acceptance in order to create peace* at the earliest opportunity. The main settlement between the Sinn Fein and Britain will not he affected by refusal on the part of Ulster. Moreover, the Premier’s declaration that Ulster will not be coerced will not be departed from in letter or spirit. Any settlement must have the approval of Britain and Ulster.

THE OATH AGREED UPON

London, Deo. 6. The following oath of allegiance was agreed upon: — “I do solemnly swear (rue faith and allegiance to the constitution of the Irish Free State as by law established, and that I will be faithful to George the Fifth, his heirs and successors, in virtue of the common citizenship of Ireland with Great Britain, and her adherence to the membership of the group of nations forming the British Commonwealth of Nations;’