EXCLUSION RIGHTS

Northern Advocate, 26 August 1924, Page 5

EXCLUSION RIGHTS

WHERE ULSTER STANDS.

ON BOUNDARY QUESTION.

BASIC FACT MISSED,

(Received 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, August 24,

The Ulster Association, replying to Mr E. J. Duggan, says he has overlooked the basic fact that the 1920 Act laid down the extent of Northern territory, therefore Ulster was not concerned with discussions affecting the 26 counties. Furthermore, Mr Lloyd George pledged that Ulster's rights would not be compromised,—A. and N.Z.

Mr E. J. Duggan, ex-Sinn Fein M.P. for South Meath, who was one of the signatories to the Irish Free State Treaty, issued a statement on August 20 concerning the assertion that Northern Ireland had not been consulted in the treaty settlement. jJe contended that when the treaty was being negotiated the Irish plenipotentiaries claimed that the whole of Ireland was a proper unit of government. They were compelled, however, to recognise the fact that a section of "our people" disagreed (at present at any rate) with the views and aims of the majority. The British and Irish plenipotentiaries endeavoured to work out a scheme for the unification of Ireland involving the continuance of local selfgovernment in the north-east, said Mr Duggan. Representatives of Northern Ireland, however, refused point blank to enter into the discussions unless this proposal was withdrawn. When it was said that the North was not consulted it should be remembered that this was mainly due to its refusal to even consider a possible line of settlement. It was clearly understood that the purpose of the Boundary Commission was to be, not merely to rectify an inconvenient border, but to prevent the infliction of an avoidable injustice on people des'ring to remain in the Free State. The Irish signatories had held, and had expressed, this view from the first. Moreover, the same interpretation had been plainly put forward by Lord Birkenhead and Mr Lloyd George.