IRISH FRICTION.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 February 1922, Page 5

IRISH FRICTION.

ULSTER AND THE SOUTH

BOUNDARY DISPUTE. SET-BACK TO AGREEMENT. By Talegra ph.— Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 5, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 4. The British public is surprised at the latest turn of the Irish controversy, believing the dispute was merely a question of the rectification of boundaries. Mr. Michael Collins (the head of the Provisional Government of the Irish Free State), in a statement, said: “The treaty with the British Government provides that the boundary line is a question for the inhabitants of the areas’ concerned to decide*, and for them only. If we take the counties as a guide anti-partition has a clear majority in two out of the six; if we take the constituencies, county council areas or parishes anti-partition gains very large areas in Down, Derry and Armagh. These are the facts. We can only come to agreements on recognised facts, and our claim is that the majorities must rule.”

Sir Jamefe Craig (Premier of Northern Ireland), interviewed, said: “Some portions of Northern Ireland have slight Sinn Fein majorities owing to the magnificent response of the loyalist during the war. It is impossible for me to part with territory solemnly conveyed by an Act of the British Parliament; there is no precedent for taking territory from a created State.”

Mr. Arthur Griffith (leader of the Dail Eireann), said the Dail Eireann will not,permit a Nationalist Ulster to be coerced, and it will not use force against that part of Ulster voting itself outside the Free State.

Mr. Collins, in a further statement, said the treaty provided that the people will decide the boundary, and any map marked under such a principle must give the Free State an immense area of Ulster. He suggests that in view of the new situation the Parliamentary representatives of the whole of Ireland ought to meet, adopt a policy, and form a constitution. The only alternative was the resumption of the old disturbances and animosities. Mr. Collins’ statement represents the unanimous view of the Dail Eireann Ministry.

A GRAVE SITUATION. SETTLEMENT IN DANGER. FEAR OF CIVIL WAR. Received Feb. 5. 11.35 p.m. London, Feb. 5. The Observer states that if anything beyond trimming and rectification of the Ulster boundary had been contemplated, the Irish treaty would not have stood a moment’s chance of being ratified. Ulster will retain the statutory area of six counties intact, or there will be civil war.

If anything more than trimming is contemplated the Government will undoubtedly fall. We think it will turn out that Mr. Lloyd George and his colleagues had nothing but trimming the boundary in mind. If Mr. Griffith and Mr. Collins imagined a carving process was contemplated, to the possible extent of shearing away half of the present area of the six' counties, they fell under a most disastrous delusion.

The Sunday Express says the British Government’s existence is menaced by a complete breakdown of the Irish settlement over the boundary dispute or a Conservative revolt. No majority in the present House of Commons will alter the Irish Parliament Act of 1920 against Ulster’s will. Cabinet must reach a decision before Parliament meets on Tuesday.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

DEFIANT SPIRIT ARISING. “FIGHT WITH GLOVES OFF.” CASE FOR ULSTER, t ■’*- i London, Feb. 3. Southern Ireland threats that the Sinn Feiners will make the Northern Government ineffective by non-co-operation are arousing a defiant spirit in Ulster. Already a dangerous situation is developing in Derry, where a public demonstration, headed by Mayor O’Doherty, declared that “what the people have done in Belfast can be done again. This fight is going to be no child’s play. Nationalists born in six counties are not going to sell their birthright for a mess of pottage. If the abortion of a Parliament at Belfast continues to flout the will of the Irjsh people the fight will go on with gloves off 1 .” Sir James Craig conferred with Mr. Winston Churchill over the boundaries deadlock, and subsequently in a statement to the Press he said that when the treaty was made between the Imperial Government and representatives of Southern Ireland Ulster was assured there would merely be a rectification of boundaries, not a transfer of large areas, and the Southern representatives never challenged this interpretation. Yesterday Mr. Collins adopted a very different attitude. “It appears to me he has been driven by his extremists to reverse his former policy of conciliation. He states definitely that the differences between us were so wide that a postponement of discussion could not serve a useful purpose. The present situation, therefore, is not of my making. On the contrary. I have seriously endeavored to avoid it.” Sir James Craig said Mr. Collins showed him maps indicating that Mr. Collins had already promised to bring into the Free State almost half the area of Northern Ireland, including Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh and Down, also Derry City. Inniskilling and Newry. Captain Charles Craig, M.P., for Antrim South (and elder brother of Sir James Craig), in a speech at Belfast, declared that he was convinced South. Ireland would have a republic within two years. If South Ireland or any commission appointed by the Imperial Government attempted to deprive North Ireland of larsre pieeea of six counties the result would be civil war. If the people wanted an Irish settlement without bloodshed the provisions of the treaty with regard to boundaries must be altered United Service.