The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1922. FACING REALITIES IN IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 233, 28 June 1922, Page 4

The Dominion WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1922. FACING REALITIES IN IRELAND

Mr. Winston Churchill’s Irish statement indicates that the British Government has awakened, rather belatedly, to the realities. of the Irish situation. The Colonial Secretary’s speech is as much a confession of past failure as an outline of policy now to be pursued. From the latter standpoint, however, it appears to satisfy requirements. It pledges the British Government to exact an hon'est fulfilment of the Irish Treaty. This task would be simpler if the British Government had not by its weak policy encouraged the irreconcilable factions in Ireland and so increased very materially the obstacles to an orderly and stable settlement in that country. The measure of responsibility thus incurred by the Government is fairly indicated in what Mr. Churchill, as its spokesman, had to say of its attitude since the Treaty* was signed. Now that the elections were over, he said, there was no excuse for. the Provisional Government failing in its duty in accordance with the letter and spirit of the Treaty. Moreover, “in view of the wishes clearly expressed by the Irisb people, we could not continue to tolerate the many .gross lapses from the Treaty and improprieties and irregularities in its execution which we had put up with or acquiesced in during the last six months.”’ All save the Irish extremists, who are a small minority jn their own country, will agree that the Treaty ought to be carried into effect. The British Government, however, cannot escape heavy blame for having adopted hitherto the attitude which Mr. Churchill accurately describes. According to the Colonial Secretary, the policy of. the British Government all the time was to obtain a free expression of Irish opinion without creating partisanship by British interference. No doubt, also, it was anxious that the policy of the United Kingdom towards Ireland should be vindicated in the eyes of foreign nations, especially America. Even if allowance is masle for the admitted difficulties of the situation, however, it is manifest that these aims and the interests of a just settlement in Ireland would have been very much better served if a firmer policy had been adopted. ” By its attitude of extreme toleration, the British Government permitted and almost assisted the development of factions in Ireland which seek to attain lawless ends by intimidation and terrorism. In a sense it invited the series of murderous outrages which culminated in the assassination of Sir Henry Wilson. The policy now formally abjured was not unfairly summed up by Sir Henry Wilson himself as one of shaking hands with murder. If it is intended to justify the policy of the British Government since the Treaty was signed, Mr. Churchill’s speech in that respect will leave many people unconvinced. It is satisfactory, however, that the Government now affirms its intention of taking whatever measures are neoessativ to ensure the fulfilment of the Treaty, or meet the alternative of its violation. Mr. Churchill raises a definite issue in regard to the Irish Republican Army, whose headquarters in Dublin he denounces as a nest of anarchy and treason from which murderous outrages are stimulated and encouraged. The Provisional Government, he says/ will be requested to end this state of affairs. Should it fail to do so, “the Imperial Government would regard the Treaty as formally violated and take necessary action to safeguard its rights and interests.” If it lives up to this declaration of policy, the British Government will do something to redeem the weak temporising it has at times displayed in its dealings with Ireland during the last six months. It. is not only taking a stand against a gang of murderous terrorists, but is definitely upholding the constitutional rights of the Irish people. If fair and honest effect is to be given to the overwhelming verdict for the Treaty the Irish people have just pronounced at the polls, the I.R.A. must be subpressed. In-its belated demand for the fulfilment of the Treaty, the British Government is merely seconding the mandate given in clear terms by a great majority of the Irish people.