SIGHING TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1921, Page 5

SIGHING TREATY.

PREMIER’S HAPPY DAY. DAWN OF NEW ERA. JUBILATION IN DUBLIN. By Telegraph.—Tress Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 7, 9.55 p.m. London, Dec. 7. “This has been the happiest day of my life; an age-long problem is solved.” These were the first words of Mr. Lloyd George when the Aqglo-Irish Treaty was signed. A few minutes before Mr. Lloyd George had given an undertaking regarding a small adjustment of the terms, and Mr. Arthur Griffiths (Sinn Fein) said: “With that, Mr. Lloyd George, we are satisfied; we will sign.” The document was placed before the Premier, who added his signature. He then turned wijth a smile to Mr. Michael Collins and Mr. Griffiths. When all the signatures were added the Premier stretched out his hands and clasped those of Mr. Griffiths and Mr. Collins, saying: “This is the dawn of a new era for Ireland and Britain.” As Big Ben chimed two-thirty the Irishmen left to telegraph the news to Mr. De Valera, while Mr. Lloyd George communicated with the King at Sandringham. So the Irish settlement came into being.

Late on Tuesday evening it was decided that the House of Commons and the House of Lords should be summoned for the 14th inst. to consider the agreement. By then the treaty should be ratified by the Dail Eireann. The King will open the session in full State, and after a day or two in debate Parliament will probably adjourn -until January 30, when the ratifying Bill wilt have been drafted.

The .publication of the terms in the Dublin evening papers aroused jubilation. It is generally agreed that the constitution of the Irish Free State and the terms of the oath do not leave room for criticism by the most advanced Sinn Feiners. The settlement aroused the most fervent enthusiasm in Dublin, where even the most extreme Nationalists extol the delegates’ work in London, saying they are honestly glad that peace with freedom has been won at last. Many services of thanksgiving have been arranged. Messages indicating most supreme satisfaction are reaching Sinn Fein headquarters from all corners of Ireland, welcoming the end of the bloody feud, Cork and Limerick and towns north of the Boyne joining the general jubilation. On the contrary Belfast is dour, suspicious and fearful. Unionists openly stating that Sinn Fein is in an even stronger position to wage war on Ulster economically by boycott and other means. They do not believe in the reality of Sinn Fein concessions. There is a general feeling of depression and uneasiness, which is intensified by Lord Birkenhead’s speech.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NEWS AT WASHINGTON. RELIEF AT THE AGREEMENT. INFLUENCE ON CONFERENCE. Received Dec. 7, 10.30 p.m. London, Dec. 7. The Xyestminster Gazette’s special Correspondent at Washington states there was immense relief at the news that an Irish agreement had been reached. It is impossible to exaggerate how much the belief that the British Government was seeking an Irish settnA ment contributed to the smooth working of the Conference, or how greatly failure at the eleventh hour might have embarrassed the administration in its efforts to get the results ratified by the American people.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.