THE FREE STATE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLIV, Issue 9874, 23 July 1923, Page 5

THE FREE STATE

BOUNDARY COMMISSION. ATTITUDE OF ULSTER. * (Per Press Association, Copyright) LONDON, July 21.

Mr Cosgrove, in the Dail Eireann, said the time had arrived for a settlement of the northern boundary question, The boundary under the . Act of 1920 was drawn in an arbitrary fashion. The Free State wished to see as few discontented people on both sides of the border as possible. He announced the appointment of Professor Mac Neil as the Government representative on the Commission.

Sir James Craig says that Ulster refuses to recognise the Commission, as she never agreed to it. The Belfast correspondent of the “Morning Post” points out that if there is no northern representative on the Commission, it cannot sit, and says Sir James Craig is willing to agree to adjustment by agreement, exchanging a. bit in one place for a bit in another, but will not enter any conference which might enable outside influences to transfer large areas in Ulster to the Free State.

A GENERAL ELECTION. REPUBLICAN POLICY. LONDON, July 22. A secret session of the Dail Eireann decided that a general election should be held before September. The country generally seems disposed to give the Government, a renewed lease of life.

Mr E. de Valera has issued a statement saying it is not the intention of the Republicans to renew the war in the autumn or after. “The war,” he says, “is finished. We intend to devote ourselves to social reform, but shall continue to deny the right of any foreign authority to control Ireland.”

DE VALERA SEEKS ELECTION

(Received This Day, 2.5 p.m.) LONDON, July 22

De Valera is appealing to America for election funds. He declares the Irish are still overwhelmingly Republican at heart.