THE IRISH BILL

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

THE IRISH BILL

BOUNDARY DISPUTE. ARGUED IN THE COMMONS. BI CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COP t HIGH'I ■' LONDON, Oct. 1. Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Premier) read his Irish speech throughout. It was a closely argued historical resume, &t establishing the contention that the Government could not go behind the several votes of Parliament, au d refusing amendments which gave limiting instructions - to the boundary commissioners. He said that without article 12 there would have been no settlement in December, 1921. Mr Baldwin argued that it was only on the assumption of the limited nature of article 1 12 that Parliament consented to it.

■ &r Robert O’Neill put the case for Ulster with moderation when'he moved the rejection of the Bill, but he warned the House that there was a danger of a conflagration if the Bill were passed.

Mr T. P. O’Connor 6aid that if Ulster kept Fermanagh and Tyrone, with their hostile populations, it would be a weakness as great as that of Alsace and Lorraine. The idea that people could be governed against their will had perished for ever. Mr lan Macpherson aroused angry dissent from the Liberals and Labour benches by a remarkable declaration that the pledge which was given to Ulster in 1920 was as binding as that given to the South. If the Governhient was sincere in bringing in a Bill to alter an unalterable treaty, they should include in the terms of the reference, clearly and definitely, the powers and duties of the Boundary Commission.

After the 1 adjournment the Unionists gave notice of an amendment making it the duty of the commissioners to adjust the boimdary without substantially altering the area of Northern Ireland as defined by the Act of 1920. i Beauchamp has been elected leader of the Liberal peers in Succession to Earl Grey, who resigned.