IRISH DEADLOCK

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 181, 28 April 1924, Page 7

IRISH DEADLOCK

MOST SERIOUS CRISIS SINCE THE TREATY ULSTER REPRESENTATIVES ADAMANT VIEW OF FREE STATE GOVERNMENT The Irish deadlock resulting from the breakdown of tho conference on the boundary question is regarded as the most serious since the treaty. (BY telegraph.—Press association.) Copyright. London, April 25. There is a tense situation in the Free State and Ulster over the boundary deadlock. • It is expected that the Free State will ask Mr. MacDonald to legislate to enable the Boundary Commission to proceed .with delimitation in spite of Ulster s refusal to share in the work of the commisNewspapers regard the deadlock as the most serious crisis since the treaty. Mr. J. H. Thomas Secretary for the Colonies, has exhausted every avenue to reconciliate the parties, but the Ulster representatives are adamant and refused to yield an inch of territory during the six hours debate. Some sources suggest that the Government will hesitate to pass special legislation, but may convene an all-lrish conference m the hope of a miracle occurring. The fact that delegates are remaining in London is believed to foreshadow an in terview with Mr. Ramsay McDonald. The Belfast correspondent of the “Evening Standard” says that Ulster is determined to line the frontier with its own troops if the British force is withdrawn. The “Irish Times” pleads to the parties to secure a compromise instead of incurring the risk of anarchy and civil war. . . c 4.1 The Belfast correspondent of the “Daily Express” says there is little doubt that the Boundary Conference breakdown was due to the Free State. In this decision he is badked by all the Ulster loyalists. At Dubini this breakdown caused no surprise. One in a position to express the Free State Government’s view said: “The responsibility now rests upon the British Government to insist on the fulfilment of the treaty relating to the counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh. Sir James Craig always declared that he would never give them U p.Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. NO ALTERNATIVE TO COMMISSION SHOULD BE SETTLED BY IRISHMEN 7Rec. April 27, 5.5 p.m.) London, April 26. A Dublin message states that President Cosgravo, referring to the boundary conference breakdown, said there was no alternative to the Boundary Commission. It would be tho duty of the Executive Council to renew their request to have the machinery of the commission sot up so. that its work may proceed. Tlie “Daily Telegraph’s” Parliamentary correspondent says the Government regards the boundary question as an Irish question and is anxious that it should too settled by Irishmen.— Aus.-N Z. Cable Assn. SPECIAL LEGISLATION INEVITABLE (Rec. April 27, 11.45 p.m.) London, April 27The “Sunday Express’s” Dublin correspondent says the enemies of Ulster and the Free State alike are delighted at the breakdown of the boundary conference. They believe that special legislation is inevitable to enable the commission to proceed without an Ulster nominee, and if the commission reports favourably on the transfer of Tyrone, Fermanagh, South Down, South Armagh, and the. city or Derry to the Free State. Britain must cither force Ulster to accept the decision or break the Anglo-Irish treaty. Mr. Cahir Healy, as representing Fermanagh and Tyrone in the Imperial Parliament, writes in the Sunday Express” arguing: “If th o treaty is in anyway violated, there. will be no necessity to resort to . civil wai in order to create a republic. 1 hat can be done by a constitutional general election and the return of the. party pledged to purge the constitution, of all reference to the oath.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.