GOOD IRISH NEWS.

Taranaki Daily News, 30 December 1921, Page 5

GOOD IRISH NEWS.

SUPPORT FOR TREATY, OPTIMISM IN DUBLIN. PEOPLE WANT PEACE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright. Received Dec. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 2S. Optimism in Dublin is increasing, and political circles now feel assured that ratification is almost a certainty. The adjournment of the Dail Eireann served a useful purpose, bringing members of the Dail in close contact with their constituents, an overwhelming majority of whom favor ratification, realising that the treaty gives a measure of freedom unexampled in the country’s history. The only alternative is endless and fruitless warfare. The latest, resolutions demanding ratification come from South Cork, the Sinn Fein executive at Longford and the Kilkenny County and Navan and urban councils. A member of the last-named pointed out that the people listened to the Dail speeches and the Dail ought now to listen to the people. The latest resolutions suggest that members of the Dail objecting ing to the oath ought to obstain from voting or consult their constituents. It is reported from Dublin that the chief ratifiers and rejectionists, at a secret, meeting, reached a compromise under which ratification will be carried. —Aus.-N.Z. Cable PREMIER ON THE TREATY. THE CHANGE OF CONTROL. Received Dec. 29, 5.5 p.m. London, Dec. 28. Interviewed, Mr. Lloyd George said the recent statement telegraphed from Downing Street was issued officially in order to clear up certain doubts. The Premier said: “No British statesman could go further than we have done; no statesman could consider any proposal involving Ireland being out of the Empire. The Government had gone to the utmost limit in the treaty to re-open discussion, which was only closed after a most exhaustive discussion of every point.” A committee consisting of British Ministers, under the presidency of Mr. Winston Churchill, is being sent to arrange an amnesty, to deal with the evacuation of British forces, and make the necessary arrangements for the transfer of the full executive responsibility to the Irish provisional Government. The committee had arranged to sit through the Christmas holidays, but it was held up pending approval of the treaty.

A HOPEFUL VIEW New York, Dec. *2B. Sir Horace Plunkett has arrived.' He declared his belief that Dail Eireann would submit the Irish Treaty to a popular vote, which would overwhelmingly ratify it. He thinks Ulster will join the South when the question is no longer an issue of British party politics. AMENDMENT IMPOSSIBLE. London, Dec. 28. Mr. Lloyd George has telegraphed from Cannes: “It would be fruitless and impossible to re-open the discussion on the Irish Treaty. Any alteration would render it null and void. Mr. Churchill will preside over the Ministerial committee which is going to Ireland to settle the amnesty and transfer the executive to the Irish Government.”