IRISH TREATY BILL

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLII, Issue 9473, 4 March 1922, Page 5

IRISH TREATY BILL

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. ATTACKED BY THE “DIET!ARDS.” (Per Press Association, Copyright.) LONDON, March 2. In the House of Commons, when the . Irish Bill was in committee, Colonel . J. Gretton (Unionist, Burton) moved i to omit the word “treaty” from the i Bill, as a treaty could only be made between the High Contracting Powers of independent States. The Crown could not constitutionally make a treaty with subjects of 'the Crown. Mr Churchill resisted the amendment. He said the expression “treaty” had become the foundation of the political party in Ireland who were combating the Republic. Colonel j. C. Wedgwood (Labour, Newcastle-under-Tyne) said the Labour Party- was convinced that the treaty had been made with the Irish Republic. It was useless for the Government to try to evade the issue by alleging that the words were merely formal. The Attorney-General (Sir Gordon Hewart) said he did not consider this an occasion for constitutional pedantry. Sir Frederick’ Banbury (Co. Unionist, London City) moved an amendment defining the treaty as between •Britain and Southern Ireland, and not the whole of Ireland. Mr Churchill, in refusing to accept the amendment, said if it were carried the Bill would be dead and the Treaty would be dead, and so would the Government. “If,” he said, “I am asked why we decline to insert the words ‘Southern Ireland,’ I would say it is because we were negotiating with men who, rightly or wrongly, we decided to consider as representing the Irish nation.” (Loud Ulster cries of “traitor” and “sit down,” followed by considerable uproar.) Continuing, Mr Churchill said there were provisions in the Bill which enabled Ulster to contract out of the ar- ( rangement if necessary. The Government, as signatories to the Treaty, were in honour’ bound to go through with it. (Cheers.) The debate then took an ugly turn. The “Die-hards,” undaunted by Mr ( Lloyd George’s threat of resignation, ( attacked the Government.

Mr Ronald McNeill (Co. Unionist, Canterbury) passionately charged the Premier with dishonourable conduct, and with conferring with malefactors. Lord Hugh Cecil (Co. Unionist, Oxford University) gibed at Ministers as being fearful that they would be left by their Irish coadjutors with a derelict treaty, which they would have to sell for what it would fetch in the English constituencies. “Though we know,” lie said, “the treaty cannot be killed, we wish the Government was as dead as mutton.” Sir Frederick Banbury’s amendment was rejected by 254 votes to 64. (Received March 4, 9.15 a.m.) LONDON, March 3. The Irish debate was resumed.

Lord Hugh Cecil,., in moving an amendment, declared 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 McNeill" quoted Mr Michael;,Collins as having said Sir James Craig had been tricked by Ins own friends. . Mr Churchill intervened, saying that any promise given t(p Mr Griffith and Mr Collins that Fermanagh and Tyrone would be handed over was absolutely untrue. He could not accept any amendment interpreting the Treaty. - , " Captain Craig declared the Government had got itself into a dreadful mess and must break pledges either to Ulster or the Sinn Fein. Mr Churchill rno.ved the closure anti it was carried by 199 to 160 amid cues of “gag.” . , . The amendment was negatived by 199 to 163. (Received March 4, 10 a.m.) LONDON, March 3. Lord Hugh Cecil moved that the chairman of the Boundary Commission should be v appointed by the Government with the consent of both Houses, it was desirable to have security that the Government 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 bo altered without North Ireland’s ‘consent was negatived by 107 to 51. SHOT DEAD IN DUBLIN. (Received March 4 9.10 a,m.) -• LONDON, March 3. Mr Max Green, chairman of the Irish Prisons Board, a son-in-law of Mr John Redmond, was shot dead in Dublin while endeavouring to capture an Armed man who with others, attempted highway robbery. ULSTER AND FREE STATE. MR GRIFFITH’S .THREAT.

LONDON, March 2. Mr Arthur Griffith- replying to questions in the Dail Eireann, said the abolition of the boycott had been followed by attacks on Nationalists and Catholics in Ulster, inspired by the Orange enemies of the Treaty, with a view to preventing the tree btate carrying out the abolition of the boycott. If the attacks continued Cabinet would consider the advisability of reimposing the boycott. A "DISHONEST TRICK.” LONDON, March 3. The Dail Eireann rejected the antiTreaty members’ proposal to extend the Parliamentary suffrage to women, Mr Griffith describing the proposal as a dishonest trick.