LOST FAITH

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 24 November 1925, Page 5

LOST FAITH

IN BOUNDARY COMMSSION. o• —' MR. COSGRAVE’S DECLARATION FEARS INJUSTICE TO THE SOUTH. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. Received Nov. 24, 10.30 a.m LONDON, Nov. 23. The Premier of the Irish Free State, Mr. Cosgrave, speaking at Monaghan, declared: “Mr. McNeill told the Cabinet that he had realised during recent meetings that the Boundary Commission would not produce a report based on the terms ot' reference. I emphasised on the 19th that Cabinet always, contended the commission had no right' to deprive the Free State of territory. 1 now say that if the treaty is properly interpreted the Free State would be in danger of losing territory. The commission’s lamentable decisions are due to political pressure by British newspapers, also threats of violence. British politicians have associated themselves with this movement by misrepresentation of the Free State’s treaty rights. Mr. McNeill resigned because he had lost faith in his fellow commissioners. I have also lost faith in the commission. A grave situation has arisen, necessitating steps to prevent the infliction of injustice on Free Staters. It also demands the serious consideration of the British Government, which appointed Mr. Justice Featham Fisher. The British Government cannot escape moral responsibility for any injustice inflicted through its nominees, but heated words and foolish acts must not be permitted to render the Free State s task more difficult.”— Sydney Sun Cable. AN APPEAL POR RESTRAINT WORK OF THE COMMISSION. MR. COSGRAVE’S COMPLAINTS. Received Nov. 24., 11.20 a.m. LONDON, Nov. 23. Mr Cosgrave, speaking at Monaghan, specified that an allegedly accurate forecast of the Commission s report was published in the Morning Post on November 7, which, though insufficiently detailed, was sufficiently unjust to occasion the feeling of disquiet. He contended that Mr McNeill’s resignation could only be explained by persistent unscrupulous use of threats ot violence and political pressure. Mi Cosgrave sitid that from the moment the Boundary Commission was in the course of formation threats had been circulated, emphasised 'and encouraged by an influential section of the British press, which, while ventilating the unconstitutional threats of the North, practically closed its columns to any reasoned arguments for carrying out international engagement. Public men in highest positions in Britain lent themselves to a campaign of whittling away by misrepresentation th e treaty ■right of a large number of Irishmen . for. the express purpose of prejudicing the Commission in the interpretation of the terms. The grave situation called for most careful consideration by the Free State and British Governments. In conclusion, Mr Cosgrave appealed for restraint. —Reuter.