KING

Taranaki Daily News, 8 December 1921, Page 5

KING

OVERJOYED AT THE NEWS. “REASONABLE SETTLEMENT” SAFETY SECURED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 7, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 6. The King telegraphed as follows to Mr. Lloyd George from Sandringuam to-day: “I am overjoyed to hear the splendid news you have just sent me. I congratulate you with all my heart on such a successful termination of difficult and protracted negotiations, which is due to the patient and conciliatory spirit you have shown throughout. I am indeed happy in some way to have contributed, by my speech at Belfast, to thip great achievement.”

The Lord High Chancellor (Lord Birkenhead), speaking at Birmingham, said he brought a message of sure and certain hope. “After months of delicate negotiations we seem to have arrived at a solution of the Irish question,” he said. “The situation has been most critical, for though it was not admitted that we were at war with Ireland, we were, in fact, engaged in something which was more'* difficult than an international struggle.”

Proceeding Lord Birkenhead said: “The representatives of the Government and Sinn Fein have signed a document which represents a sane and reasonable settlement, securing the safety of Britain and Ireland. The same room at Downing Street which witnessed our loss of American colonies and the most momentous decisions of the great war. has seen a new phase of Britain’s history commenced. The British Navy will protect Ireland until she is. able to undertake her own coastal defences. The navy provisions may be reviewed five years hence. The ports of Ireland and the United Kingdom will be mutually open and free. If Ulster contracts herself out she retains only the existing powers.”

Lord Birkenhead said that with a single reservation Ireland would be placed in the same position as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, under the title of the Irish Free State. Financially Ireland would be supreme in her own house. Ireland had recognised the fairness of paying her share of the national debt and the war expenditure, and the amount would be decided by a distinguished citizen of England. Personally he thought the arbitrator ought to be a colonial judge.

North Ireland would be well advised if she contributed her sobriety and business experience to the new Parliament. Sinn Fein had given reasonable guarantees for the protection of the minority in South Ireland. If Ulster was not prepared to send representatives to an all-Ireland Parliament, but preferred to send members to the Imperial Parliament, the scheme gave her complete option in this matter.

If Ulster decided to Join the scheme it would certainly necessitate such rectification of frontiers as would prevent friction. The fidelity of the Irish Free State would be declared in no equivocal way. The terms fully satisfied the Admiralty. If the Dail Eireann rejected the scheme, Britain would have gained, convincing her representatives of the Government’s sincerity. “If Parliament does not assent to the terms we shall soon have an opportunity of discovering whether the country agrees with the Government or the diehards,” added. Lord Birkenhead.

CABINET’S APPROVAL. PARLIAMENT TO MEET. ■ ALLEGIANCE QUITE DEFINITE. London, Dec. o. The Cabinet unanimously approved the draft of the Irish agreement. Parliament will meet next week. The Central News Agency states that in the Irish agreement the promise of allegiance is quite definite. There is no big point of principle involved. The solution arrived at is quite satisfactory as regards the Crown and association with the Empire. The Australian Press Association understands that the conference was a long series of discussions, delegates sometimes separating in order to consider new proposals, then re-uniting and settling the 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 Feiners 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 Feiners 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 head of the Commonwealth. On this, with one important modification, the delegates finally agreed. FRiEE STATE STATUS. The Government put the Ulster ease very strongly. The Sinn Feiners’ instructions were to demand a time limit for Ulster coming in, periods of five to seven years being mentioned. The Government proved immovable.! but through the good offices of Mr. ■ Collins an understanding was arrived ' at and the delegates signed the agree- ) ment, shook hands and departed. A copy was taken to Sir James Craig by Mr. Lloyd George’s secretary, who travelled by special train and a destroyer. Mr. Lloyd George is arranging to summon Parliament immediately. On general questions Ireland will be given a Free State status, which means that, instead of the British Government binding them by provisions, they are trusted to *work out their own destiny. Ulster will be free to exercise her right to maintain her existing status, but will not receive any more than it has under the present status, if it 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 at the conference agreed to recommend the new scheme to their respective Cabinet”, with the view of expediting its acceptance in order to

create peace a( the earliest opportunity. The main' settlement between Sinn Fein and Britain will not be affected by a 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 in spirit. Any settlement must, have the approval of the British and Ulster Parliaments. POSITION OF ULSTER. It is understood that the new settlement applies to Ulster, unless she, within one month, contracts herself out of it. Freeman’s Journal says that Ireland needs no assurance that the terms will harmonise with the principles for which she stands. British statesmen at last realise that the principles do not contain a menace to Britain’s real interests. Ireland looks to Mr. Lloyd George and his colleagues to ensure that the opposition of a fanatical minority shall no longer prevent an honorable peace. Armagh City Council adopted a resolution ignoring the Ulster Parliament and pledging allegiance to Dail Eireann. Nine Catholics voted for the resolution and seven Protestants against. The Ulster Cabinet, after considering the peace terms for 204 hours, adjourned until to-morrow. It is unofficially stated that the Unionists fear that a settlement has been made at their expense, especially the clause relating to the boundaries of Northern Ireland.