THE IRISH QUESTION

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 81, 2 October 1924, Page 5

THE IRISH QUESTION

DISCUSSED BY COMMONS

EREMIER PLEADS FOR BILL

LIBERAL SUPPORTS REJECTION.

(UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION.—COPYRIGHT.)

JAE3TEALUN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.) ■ LONDON, 30th September. Mr. Mac Donald read his Irish speech throughout. It was a closely-argued historical resume, aiming at establishing the contention that the Government could not go behhid several votes of Parliament refusing amendments which gave limiting instructions to the Boundary Commissioners. He said that without Article 12 in the Treaty there would have been no settlement in December, 1921. Mr. Baldwin argued that it was only on the. assumption of the limited nature W Article 12 that Parliament had consented to it. > Mr. D. D. Reid and Mi-. Robert /O'Neill put the ease for Ulster with {moderation when they moved the rejection of the Bill, but they warned the mouse that there was danger of a conflagration if- the Bill were passed. I In moving the rejection of the Bill, 'Blr. Reid took the orthodox Ulster line, fthat no change in the boundary should foe made without the consent of the Government concerned. 1, Mr. Lan Macpherson (Liberal), who' jwas Chief Secretary for. Ireland when The 1920 Act was under discussion, supported the motion for rejection. He declared that a pledge was given Ulster ,that she would be left her six counties. He aroused angry dissent from the Liberal and Labour benches by a remarkable declaration that the pledge given to Ulster in 1920 was as binding as that given the South. If the Government

were sincere in bringing the Bill to alter an unalterable treaty, it should include terms of reference clearly defining ,the powers and.duties of the Boundary Commission. Mr. T. P. O'Connor said that if Ulster kept Fermanagh and Tyrone with hostile populations it would have a ■weakness as great as France had in" Al-sace-Lorraine. The. idea 'tjiat people could be governed, against their will had perished for ever. The debate was adojumed. After the adjournment the Conservatives gave notice of an amendment making it the duty of the Commissioners to adjust the boundary without substantial!/ altering the area of Northern Ireland, as defined by the Act of 1920.