IRISH FREE STATE.

Grey River Argus, 3 April 1922, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE.

IRISH BILL PASSED. PRESS OPINIONS. [A. and N. Z. Cable Association] LONDON, March 31. ■ The Trish Free State Bill Ims received the Royal assent. Mr Griffiths, interviewed, said if the document signed last night as the outcome of the London Conference is curried out in the spirit of the signatories, it will give us a united Ireland, which every honest, sensible Irishman, whatever his creed, desires. Dublin and Belfast newspapers joyfully hail the agreement. The “Irish Times” says: The terms represent a large-minded courageous effort to remove causes of strife between North and South, and by foundations for a national settlement. Good Irishmen will thank God for 'this agreement. The “Northern Whig” says that the Catholic minority are now enabled i;> show once and for al! that Catholicism ami Sinn b'einism : re not synonymous. It is obvious that Griffiths ami Collins signed the agreement in order to be in a better position to concentrate against De Valera. What is doubtful is not their good faith, but poWer to control the I.R.A. mutineers. . . CHURCHILL ON TREATY. THREATENS THE REPUBLICANS. LONDON, March 31. During consideration of the Lords amendments to the Irish Free State Bill, Mr Churchill, referring to the Irish Conference, paid a tribute to the statesmanlike courage and earnest goodwill displayed at the *most critical juncture in Ireland’s fortunes by Sir .Jas. Craig ami his colleagues. The value of the agreement could not be over-esti-mated. By taking all the measures humanly possible to bring about the cessation of religious partisan warfare, Ulster gave the Treaty and the Provisional Government a far greater chance of success than would ever otherwise be possible. This hope of unity and cooperation undoubtedly opened out to the Irish in : 11 parts of Ireland, prospects of peaceful progress in future for their country. The two Governments in Ireland, by arriving at the agreement, had rendered a supreme service not only to Ireland but to the whole British Empire. In consequence of this action our pledges am! obligations to secure Ulster’s rights under the Treaty are redoubled. Ulster’s position will be strengthened before the whole world by her earliest desire to create peace and goodwill. The Government could not consent to any alteration of the Treaty, however small. Even if it felt the Treaty was in some respects defective, those defects were not comparable in importance with the danger that was beginning to mar the symmetry of tlw position. Those who were fighting for the Treaty were loath to encourage optimism. A long weary period of anxiety and uncertainty was before the country. Ilv h: d complete confidence in the faith ami goodwill of the Irish signatories, but less confidence in their 1 power to discharge fuUy what they undoubtedly desired. Mr Churchill said that speaking absolutely frankly, lie felt it better to face the facts quite brutally, ami not nourish illusions. The Irish Free State I while still in the cradle, was exposed j to deadly toes who would not hesitate to use any means, however cruel and treacherous ami mud, to destroy it. He mi“lit have cause in the next few weeks to use graver words about some aspects of the occurrences in sexeral pails of Ireland. Captain Craig assured the House that Ulster would do all that was possibl? to carry out the agreement. Mr Devlin believed that the new poicy in Ireland would succeed. Lord Hugh Cecil was pessimistic, as the agreement had no driving force behind it, and was unlikely to settle the Irish question. Colonel Wedgwood voiced the Labour Party’s approval of the agreement. Colonel John Ward said that the Government should make it clear it was not responsible for the carrying out of the Treaty. He said the delay had given Mr Do Valera a chance of influencing opinion against the document. Mr Churchill replied that the provisional Government was responsible for the delay. They knew their own business best, : ml it remained to be seen whether the course taken was not 1 right. The House then considered the Lords amendments to the Free State Bill seratim. The Government amendment relating to Ulster being allowed a month for contracting out was accepted, but the House disagreed with all the, other amendment s. Sir 11. Greenwood announced that the disbandment of the R.LC. in Southern Ireland would commence toforcc would be disbanded as soon as day, and that the Northern Ireland possible. LORDS’ AMENDMENT DROPPED. (Reed. April 1, at. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 31. The House of Lords decided not. to insist on its amendment to the Irish Free State Bill, which then immediately received the Royal assent. REPUBLICANS IN NORTH. Some Irish recalcitrants held up a Londonderry train :t Newtown-Cun-

ningham, aiad burned some newspapers. They also ejected the Free Stators from the Cardonagh-Morville barracks, and commandeered a hotel at Bunerana, the largest in Donegal.