IRISH PROPOSALS

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 39, 15 August 1921, Page 8

IRISH PROPOSALS

OFFICIAL SUMMARY

THE OFFER TO SINN FEIN

STATUS OF A DOMINION.

, \ (VHITIO PRISS ASSOCIATION.—COPIMOHT.) ;' (Received August 15, 2 p.m.) : LONDON, 14th August. „ Dowiring-atreet to-day published a . eummary of the negotiations with /Mr. =do Valera. The British proposals, dated '20th July, express the earnest desire ■'j.ot the British Government to end the Vunhappy divisions, and longing for a v satisfactory solution, convinced that the ; Irish people may find as worthy and complete expression of political and 1 ■spiritual ideals within, the Empire as ■ •; any of tie numerous and varied nations 7 united ;in allegiance to Hia Majesty'B .Throne. They desire snoh a consumma- , tk>n, not only for the welfare of Britain, J Ireland, and the Empire/ but-also for » the cause of warld-ipeace and harmony. fl Referring to racial differencco, tho I British people cannot believe where * Canada ah,d South; Africa have succeedv.ed, Ireland should fail. They invite *'Ireland to take 1 her place in the great i Association of Free Nations over whioli £Hia Majesty reigns. Ae'an earnest of I their . desire to obliterate old quarrels ' 'and enable Ireland to face the future I with her own , strength, they propose % that Ireland shall assume- forthwith the •Vetatus of a Dominion, enjoying complete * autonomy, ons.taxation and finance, mainJj.tain;,her own Courts of Law, Judges, > constabulary, and her own police; to »take over the Irish postal services, and ;I»n matters thereto relating to education, ;;' land,, -agriculture, mines, minerals, for-. i.estryKhousing,l labour; unemployment, J transport, trade, public health, insurance,,, and the, liquor .traffic. In sum, ■j ishe ;?shali;: exercise ■■ all the powers and ■'■*!privileges 'upon which the autonomy of Jthe self-governing Dominions' is "based; *-; and be guaranteed. in these .liberties, ' % which'-'ho "forejgn * people cari v challenge twitHoutrchailengiiig.'the. .Empire, &3 a * *'whok:;~Th,e l .,;pominions hold, by virtue !.' *of their British"''fellowship, a standing 'a among,, the. inations equivalent to the 1 combined"" power ' and influence of all ' . I the nations, of the. Commonwealth. That * guarantee,"lthat.' ': fellowship,' that free- - s:domf''the "Whole" of the" Empire looks j'to Irejand to^cceptj ... . ; , . V The British Government is prepared .Sto give immediate effect .uponuthe, folSlowin^^opHdWions,* which; irr 1 .their opin•«ion, are 'vital to the welfare and safety Sof Britain' and' Ireland : ' , t Firstly, the'common concern of Britain ,'| end'lreland' in defence interests on land f'ondsea is mutually recognised. Britain I liv-ei' by seaborne rfood, and on the comi'imunlicatidns'depend the' freedom of. the » great' 1 sea routesi''"lreland lies across the •I!eeawcaya, -and; in.■ recognition' of this t fact/ trhich? nature" has' imposed and no *» '-statesmanship can alter, it is .essential Ji that the Royal Navy alone should con\.»trol the seas round' Ireland and Britain, 'landi'i'ucK'. rights,:arid'i'Kberties are Ito be :S accorded,:by. Jthe Irish' State; as ..are estßential iSr iaval i.:p'urposeis. ,"■:'. -•?<• /■;.... % 'Secondly, in order not to hamper the J movement towards disarmament, the £ Irish Territorial', force 'shall," within rea-: t eonable limits; •conform in 'respect of \ \ numbers. to the military establishments ■ £:inrb,ther.parisroi'the:islarids.. ' " _■'..■ •vj«-,Thjrdly..-Britain .shall.have all-neces-sary facilities for the development of defence and communications by air. \ Fourthly, Britain hopes "that Ireland in due^course. and ofvh'fer own free will contribute' a - proportion of her wealth to the regular naval • and military and air-forces, of';the Empire. -Further, it is assumed that voluntary recruiting shall be; permitted throughout Ireland, partit : ',<St},larly for the famous Irish regiments.' i.:FjftMv^,the British and Irish Govern■mentis shall agree to impose no protective ' duties-or otfier restrictions upon the flow and transport of. trade and commerce. Sixthly, Hhe Irish v : people shall agree ,to assume the responsibility for, a share ' of the present Sebt of the United King- . dom in liability; for pensions arising out of the Great War. The British Government proposes that conditions of settlement'be embodied in the form of a Jtreaty, and look to such instrument to obliterate.;- old , conflicts and forthwith clear the,;'way for a detailed settlement in full accordance with Irish conditions and needs. The form ■ in which the settlement shall take effect depends on:-Ireland- herself,; and must j.5 allow for.full recognition of the existing <; powers-'and privileges of the Parliament Kf and' Government of Northern Ireland, ''■\ wbjeh cinnot be abrogated except by its ' own-consent.--Union came to Canada by |; the free consent of the provinces, and j, so .; to Australia! and South Africa, and vi! .will' come to Ireland in no other way f), than by consent. The British Govern- !* meiit will undertake to give effect to any '"; terms in this respect whereon all Ireland !*'unites. /In- no condition can it consent i"to any*proposals which will kindle civil ;* war.: in Ireland. Throughout the Empire J there;is.iaf'deep' desire that the day of ■^violence will pass and -a solution be ,; found constaiit to the highest ideals and ■J interests of all parts of Ireland, which '■_! will enable her to co-operate/as a willing .', in the British Commonwealth. '.$ Thesßritish Government therefore leaves :*,;to Irishmen themselves to determine by I,:; negotiations whether the new powers | i shall be taken over by Ireland as a , |«whole or separately by Southern and ;j Northern Ireland. By these proposals ithe British Government sincerely believes Sit has 'shattered the 'foundations, of fthe ancient hatred and; ,distrust, which j have disfigured-bur-history for centuries •;-past. The future of .Ireland within the 't.Cominonwealtli'is for' the Irish people to ;; shape. In the foregojng the British | Government has attempted no more than i«*a broad outline for a settlement; the de•'tsfllfl"it leaves'for'discussion when the Iriah people have signified their acceptance of the. pact.