WAR CLOUD IN ULSTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LX, Issue 9797, 6 May 1924, Page 5

WAR CLOUD IN ULSTER

; SENSATIONAL REPORTS. SECRET MOVEMENTS OF ARMED MEN. MYSTERIOUS EXPLOSIONS. United Press Association —Copyright LONDON, May 4, People startlingly assert that armed bodies are moving secretly all night long on both sides of the Ulster border. Mysterious explosions continue. The atmosphere is one of preparation for war. There is a British garrison of thirteen thousand in Ulster, and it will be difficult to prevent them becoming embroiled in case of war.—Sun. BOUNDARY QUESTION BECOMES ACUTE. NORTHERN COUNTIES MAY GO TO FREE STATE. DIVERSE VIEW OF TREATY READING. LONDON, May 4. The boundary question is acute. It frankly is admitted everywhere m Ireland that if a Boundary Commission is appointed according to the Free State reading of article 12 of the treaty the counties of Tyrone, Fermanagh and other parties of Northern Ireland will be transferrin to the Free State on the basis of self-determination, because the Catholics therein outnumber tlio Protestants.

Sir James Craig’s Government contends that article 12 contemplaicu only the readjustment of minor anomalies iu the existing boundary, not the transfer of territory. Lord Birkenhead, who helped draft the treaty, takes this view, but the weight of legal opinion is opposed thereto.—Sun. BIRKENHEAD WANTS CRAIG TO APPOINT MEMBER. PREMIER REFUSES. PUBLIC OPINION OPPOSED TO COERCION. (Received May 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 4. Lord Birkenhead advises Sir James Craig to appoint a member of the Commission. Sir James Craig refuses, contending that Northern Ireland was not a party to the treaty. Legal experts regard this position as untenable. They point out that the treaty creating the Free State embodied iu an Imperial Act passtu in 1922 and virtually amends the Heme Rule Act, 1920, under which Northern Ireland is constituted. The bulk of the public and press opinion in England is strongly opposed to any attempt to coerce Ulster, but Laborites and Liberals are sympathetic with the Free State’s demand for the appointment of a boundary commission. Though “hotheads” on sides in Ireland are talking of war, it is believed a compromise ultimately will bo arranged. One suggestion is that the Free State should waive for ten years the settlement of the boundary, conditional on the British Government waiving for a decade its financial claims against the Free State. —Sun Cable.

COLONIAL SECRETARY DE- - PLORES WAR TALKGOVERNMENT WILL HONOR TREATY IN SPIRIT AND LETTER (Received May 5, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 4. The Rt. Hon. J. H. Thomas, speaking at Derby, said the boundary question could not be solved by abusing the Irish leaders. There must not be any talk of another war, or another attempt to coerce Ulster. He had refused to disclose to Parliament the proposals the Labor Government bad submitted to the Irish Conference on April 24 because they were private documents. It was not intended to treat the treaty as a scrap of paper. The Government would honor it in spirit and in letter.—Sun Cable.