ULSTER ELECTIONS

Grey River Argus, 12 February 1938, Page 9

ULSTER ELECTIONS

TWO SEATS GAINED By Craigavon Party [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] BELFAST, February 10. The state of Parties after the Ulster elections is as follows:—Unionists 23, Nationalists seven, Labour one, Inde-pendent-Labour one. The defeat of Aiderman Midgly, in the Dock Division, the leader of the Northern Ireland Labour Party, is one of the biggest election surprises. The leaders of both Unionist factions, opposing Lord Craigavon, were ■also defeated. (Received February 11, 8 p.m.) LONDON, February 11. The Ulster election resulted in a sweeping victory for Lord Craig- ; avon’s Party, which gained two seats, one from the Labour Party in Belfast, and one from the Nationalists, in Mourne, County Down. Following are the results with four to come:— Unionists 35 Nationalists 8 Independent Unionists 2 Labour 1 Independent Labour 1 Independent 1 The four results outstanding are not expected until February 14th. It is anticipated that at least three Unionists will be returned, giving Lord Craigavon’s Party thirty-eight seats. “ ■ :

Lord Craigavon, in a message of thanks to loyalists, said: “Mr De Valera again presumed to dictate terms to the Imperial Government for the severance of Ulster from the United Kingdom. That question is for Ulster to decide Your answer is unmistakeable and final. Ulster will not exchange its unity with the United Kingdom for , unity with Southern Ireland. We have, surely, seen the end of uncertainty regarding our constitutional status.”

Mr De Valera, in a statement, said: “The results of the Ulster election could have been forecast a month ago. The fundamental fact is that this territory of the Irish nation is partitioned, against the will of the vast majority of the people. Ireland’s most sacred province, also; is partitioned, the six Counties being cut off from the other three Ulster Counties, because Lord Craigavoffis Party could not secure a safe majority in Ulster as a whole. It is only in the city of Belfast and in the area adjoining it that there is a majority in favour of partition. Lord Craigavon makes a mistake. The recovery of the lost Counties will be the first item on the agenda of every conference between England and Ireland.