UGLY SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CIII, Issue 129, 3 June 1922, Page 5

UGLY SITUATION

CONSTITUTION PROBLEM

TREATY CONDITIONS IGNORED

NO SOLUTION FOUND YET.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPIRIOHT.)

(ASSTBAMAN • NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) LONDON, Ist June.

Prolonged conferences, in which Mr. Lloyd George, Mr. Churchill, Lord Birkenhead, and Sir Hamar Greenwood have been most active, failed to find a solution for the problems arising from the draft constitution for the Irish Free Stats. After discussion with Mr. Collins, Mr., Griffith, and other Irish delegates, the Cabinet came to the conclusion that the constitution does not carry out the letter or spirit of the Treaty, and asked that it should be revised. The only hope is that a conference of the Irish, leaders at Dublin at the week-end may lead to a decision to revise the draft constitution, and thus save Ireland from a renewal of warfare. It i 3 understood that the draft in no way 'follows the Canadian precedent, as was promised," and in some respects it is a violation of the Canadian system. The Government warned the 'Free Staters that any attempt to deviate from the terms of the Treaty, must wreck the Treaty and reverse the Government's policy. Mr. -Collins replied that he was personally desirous of carrying out the Treaty, but everything must be done to reconcile the de Valera party.

Mr. Collins, on being interviewed to-night, admitted that the situation "is not v/ithout difficulty, but the difficulties have Been created by people in high places." Asked to explain, he said : "We cannot allow men like Lord Carson to dictate what is best for Ireland." Mr. Collins is returning to Dublin to-night. Mr Griffith and Mr. Duggan are staying on in London.

Political correspondents of London dailies admit that civil war in Ireland is not. far off. The latest news is that Lord Balfour is taking a haaid in the negotiations. .. He will see Sir James Craig and Lord Londonderry on Friday.