IRELAND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 August 1924, Page 5

IRELAND

BOUNDARIES DISPUTE. MOMENTOUS CONFERENCE. INVITATIONS TO LEADERS. BY GAEL*— TRESS ASSOCIATION—COI'i EIGHT LONDON, Aug. 1. A momentous round-table conference to discuss the Irish boundaries question was attended by Mr. Ramsay MacDonald (Prime Minister), Mr. J. H. Thomas (Secretary for the Colonies), Mr. Stanley Baldwin (Conservative Leader and ex-Prime. Minister), Mr. Neville Chamberlain, Lord Birkenhead (ex-members of the Conservative Cabinet), Mr. Lloyd George (late Liberal Prime Minister), and Sir L. Worthington Evans (ex-member of the Liberal Cabinet). Mr. MacDonald made it plain that the Ministry had not the slightest intention to trap the leaders of the other parties into a decision. The Government was ready to honour the British pledge to carry out the treaty, and he believed it to be necessary to introduce immediately a Bill enabling the Boundary Commission to function. He hoped to pass the Bill before Parliament adjourned. Questioned later in the House of Commons as to whether the Government had conferred this morning with the British signatories to the Irish Treaty on the subject of the boundary clause and whether a decision had been made, Mr. MacDonald replied that a difficulty having arisen in connection with the interpretation, of clause 12, he thought it advisable to seek the counsel of the leaders of the parties signatory to the treaty. No decisions were taken.

Asked whether the question would be adjourned till the, autumn session, and, if so, •whether he was aware that there was a feeling throughout Ireland that the Government was not serious in pressing forward this case of the -rish Treaty, Mr. MacDonald replied T.hat there was still a week before the House would rise. He promised to which a settlement by agreement might It is understood the Government intends to adjourn next week-end until October. Therefore, it is impossible to pass a special Irish Bill to meet the difficulty, as has been suggested in some quarters. Tiie Parliamentary correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says Mr. MacDonald’s proposal did not meet with the approval of’ either the Liberals or the Conservatives. It was pointed out that if the Government deferred its attempt to legislate until the autumn sitting, there w r ould lie a lengthy valuable interval, ' during which a settlement by agreement might be possible.

The Daily. Telegraph says: “Mr. MacDonald declares that if the Bill is rejected by either the House of Commons or the House of Lords, the Government would be compelled to go to the country. When the conference broke up the Ministers appeared determined to keep. Parliament sitting in order to pass the Bill, but subsequently changed their minds and decided to formally introduce the Bill and leave the discussion thereon until the autumn., The Liberal ex-Ministers met and decided that the party was obliged to support the Government/’ The Morning Post affirms that Mr. Lloyd /George went so far as to say he would join the Government in fighting the question at a general election if necessary. The Ulster Unionist leaders sent a strong protest to Mr. MacDonald. Sir James Craig (the Premier) is ill, but the Marquess of Londonderry and two Ulster Ministers went to London to make further representations. Mr. W. Cosgrave (President of the Bail Eireann) is expected to reach London to-day.

The lobby correspondent of the Daily Express says Mr. MacDonald, in the course of a statement in the House of Commons to-day, will make one last, appeal to Ulster to nominate*- a representative as an act of generosity in the interests of the Empire. • The Bill will provide for a third representative nominated by the Ulster Government, or, on the continued refusal of Ulster, by the Imperial Government. The Daily Herald (the -Labour paper) says the Irish conference lasted two hours. Mr. MacDonald and Mr. Thomas took the line that the fulfilment of the treaty was not a party matter, but involved the honour of tlie country. They put a. motion for immediate legislation, but were unable to carry all the other party leaders with them. Mr. MacDonald will introduce the Bill before the recess, but, unless a further conference is more successful, he will not attempt to pass the measure before the autumn session. The Daily Herald also announces that Sir James Craig and Mr. Cosgrave are coming to London at Mr. MacDonald’s invitation.

Later in the House of Commons Mr. Thomas confirmed the report that Mr. Cosgrave and Sir James Craig had been invited to London. If they failed to agree, he added, a Bill would be introduced before the recess to establish a boundary commission. A SMOULDERING VOLCANO. DANGERS AHEAD. A Received Aug. 2, 9.25 a.m. ' LONDON, Aug. 1. The Times, in a leader, says: “The Trish volcano, which has been smouldering for some time, is very near an eruption which may spread ruin far beyond the borders of Ireland/’ It warns the Government against hasty legislation which would naturally rouse fierce resentment in Northern Ireland, if an attempt is made to override her, and adds: “Time is required in which to find the best method to escape from a disastrous dilemna.”—Times. IRISH BOUNDARY BILL. Received Aug. 2. 9.25 a.m. LONDON, Aug. 1. The newspapers predict that Ireland will create another political crisis. They state that Liberal co-operation will enable the Government to carry in the Commons the Bill dealing with the boundary commission against the Conservatives’ opposition, " but the Lords will reject the Bill, upon which the Government will appeal to the country. The Conservatives realise their serious disadvantage if the Liberals and Labour co-operate in an election, eliminating three cornered contests.