THE PEACE IN IRELAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 289, 7 December 1925, Page 7

THE PEACE IN IRELAND.

HOPES AND FEARS. \ BOUNDARIES AND PARTITION, i ! FACTIONS AND FRIENDSHIPS. 1 (By Cable.— Press Association.—Copyright.) < LONDON, December 6. Mr. Stanley Baldwin (Prime Minister) in the House of Commons told Mr. Ramsay Mar Donald that the bill to ratify ; the Irish settlement would definitely be ] brought down on Tuesday, in consequence ■ 1 on which the safeguarding of industries i i duty on wrapping paper would be i\ deferred till the New Year. The Prime Minister reiterated that the j settlement did not involve any new ■, liability. What Ireland might or might ] not have paid in certain circumstances undor the old agreement was largely a . matter of conjecture. The Irish Free State Parliament has been summoned to meet on Monday to discuss the first reading of a bill to confirm the Irish agreement. The Labour party in the Dail has issued a statement declaring that the agreement is "an unmitigated betrayal," and stating that it leaves no impediment whatever to the unlimited extension of the powers of the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It adds that the agreement makes partition complete and final. Mr. W. T. Cosgrave, President of the Dail, has also issued a statement. In i this he declares his belief that the agree- < ment lays the foundation of a new era f in Irish history, in which the North and 1 the South will make a united effort for •'. the betterment and development of the J whole country. I ! The Prime Minister of Northern Ire- j 1 land, Sir James Craig, had a triumphal i reception on his return to Belfast. The ' < Lord Mayor headed a deputation of, ) leading citizens who congratulated Sir I i James on the great achievement of the boundary agreement, which it was hoped would mean permanent peace in Ireland. Sir James, in replying, said the outstanding feature of the agreement was the spirit in-which it had been concluded. He said he had returned home happy and contented. NEWSPAPER COMMENT. Commenting on the settlement the "Times" says: "The general political interest of these islands can only benefit : • by the Irish agreement, which for the i first time brings the three Governments t into line. To the midnight treaty, -which : i was hastily negotiated in- 1921, with its jj dangerous indefiniteness on the vital question' of the border, this new agreement stands as the Treaty of Locarno stands to the Treaty of Versailles, a. proof of the growth of appeasement and conciliation." The "Daily Telegraph" says: "The bargain will be welcomed if we can be I fissured it is the last of its kind, and ' that it will firmly establish Mr Cos- ; i grave's position as against the Republican minority. Peace in Ireland is not j . threatened from the North, but only by dissensions in the South." The "Morning Post" remarks: "The Free State exchanges a large and un-' defined liability for a smaller but de- j fined liability. Whether it will be any j Tnore desirous of discharging one than the other remains to be seen." The "Irish Times" says: "If either Trish Government holds to the mere letter of the pact it. will prove barren. The whole genius of the settlement lies in a. little clause which contains the germ of organic good and gives Ireland something which evpn the treaty of 1921 did not i give, namely, n definite prospect of ulti- 1 mate unity. If Irishmen of all parties , and creeds resolve now to finish the , great task which has been begun so well, December 3. 10-25.. may yet mark . : the most momentous turning-point in | the history of our island. — (A. and N.Z. —Reuter—"Sun.") BILIOUS DE VALERA. THE PERFIDIOUS ENGLISH. " CHEATING THE IRISH." (Received 31 a.m.) LONDON, December 6. ( The Kepublicnn view of the boundary , agreement is expressed by Mr. Eamonn ', de Valera, who denounces the arrange- I ment. He says: "After cheating the | . Irish in Article 12, the London ! ', ment has been graciously pleased t° j waive the claim, and cheat them by , Article 5." j , Ho declares the Nationalists of the North have been surrendered as helots f , to their enemif-s without any attempt v to safeguard a single interest, while Eng- ( land's pets in the South are to be privileged and pampered.— (A. and N.Z.) A ROYAL GIFT. PRESENT OF £300,0Q0,000. ! (Received 2 p.m. , ) LONDON, December 6. i Tt is expected that ten absentee ! ."rationalists will now take their seats j ' in the Ulster Parliament. Hitherto only ' Iwo had been sitting. ' Mr. Justice Fectham, chairman of the Boundary Commission, will receive an ' honour. Lord Carson is of opinion that Britain's action in foregoing Free State • payments means a gift of £300,000,000 j to' Free Staters.— (Reuter.) j