IRISH TREATY.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 March 1922, Page 5

IRISH TREATY.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. AMENDMENTS OFFERED. THE BIDE UNALTERED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, March 3. The Irish debate has been resumed. Lord Hugh Cecil, moving an amendment, declared that the Government did not intend to agree to transfer any great area of the six counties, but only to minor adjustments of the boundary. Mr. Ronald McNeil quoted Mr. Michael Collins as having said: “Sir James Craig has been tricked by his own friends.” Mr. Churchill intervened, saying that any promise given by Mr. Griffith and Mt. Collins that Fermanagh and Tyrone should be handed over was absolutely untrue; he could not accept any amendment interpreting the treaty. Captain. Craig declared that the Government had got itself into a dreadful mess, and must break its pledges either to Ulster or Sinn Fein. Mr. Churchill moved the closure, which was carried by 199 votes to 165, amid cries of “Gag.” The amendment was negatived by 199 votes to 163. Lord Hugh Cecil moved that the chairman of the Boundary Commission should be appointed by the Government with the consent of 'both Houses. It was desirable to have the security that the Government should make a proper appointment. •Sir Hamar Greenwood said the Government could not delegate their responsibility. The amendment was negatived without a division. Captain Craig’s amendment that no part of the boundary be altered without the coneent of North Island was negatived by 207 votes to 51. Mr. C. Percy (Coalition-Unionist) moved an amendment designed to prevent Ireland seceding from the Empire. He quoted Mr. Bonar Law to the effect that the Dominions had a perfect right to secede if they wished. Mr. Churchill refused to accept this aa a final pronouncement of the constitutional law of the Empire. If the question was raised it could be pressed in one direction or another to a conclusion which would not be edifying and not helpful, but the Dominions never claimed it and Britain never admitted the right of secession. He deprecated attempts to more precisely define the status of Ireland and the other Dominions, which were better left to an easy forward movement of unity and confidence, which enabled us to stand together and carry the structure of Imperial inheritance through every peril. The amendment was lost by 250 votes to 53. PRISON OFFICIAL SHOT. London, March 3. Mr. Max Green, chairman of the Irish Prisons Board, was shot dead in Dublin while endeavoring to captured an armed man who, with others, attempted a highway robbery.