IRELAND

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 August 1924, Page 7

IRELAND

EXTRA EDITION. X

BOUNDARY DISPUTE. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT (Received Aug. 2, 11.4:1 run.) LONDON, Aug. L In the House of Commons Mr Lloyd George expressed great satisfaction at the announcement. He (himself) and all his colleagues would support the Government’s measures necessary to make it clear to 'the Empire and the world that the Government was not prepared to shuffle out of a bargain on a mere question of machinery. Colonel Ashley (Conservative) angrily asked if there was an honourable agreement with Ulster. Mr Thomas answered that there was nothing more disastrous to this issue than passion and feeling. At the request of Mr MacDonald he had invited Mr Cosgrave and Sir James Craig to meet him in London. Mr Thomas said he still believed in the possibility of a peaceful settlement. Mr Ronald McNeill (Conservative) asked if Mr Thomas realised that the Government’s assumption that this was a mere drafting oversight .was not universal and would be hotly contested. Mr Thomas said he was convinced that any legislation on this question would be hotly contested, but it must not be forgotten that the treaty had been not merely ratified by Parlianjent but endorsed at the general election. , Mr Green (Ulsterman) asked whether /the Minister realised what it meant to Motroduce legislation to over-ride the option given to a self-governing State within the Empire. Mr Thomas said it was the function of the commission to decide the boundary. A distinguished judge of unquestioned impartiality and knowledge was now here with the concurrence of the South African Government, and had visited North and South Ireland. It was not for the Government to interfere with the function imposed upon him by the Statute. Legislation would not be introduced until after the meeting with Mr Cosgrave and Sir James Craig.

Mr Wedgwood Benn asked whether, in the event of the introduction of legislation being necessary, it would be passed through all its stages before the recess.

Mr Thomas said he wanted nothing done that might hinder the possibility of a settlement. For him to make such announcement would have this effect, but he emphasised the point that no stone Avould be left unturned to prove to the world conclusively, before the rising of Parliament, what the Government intended.