IRELAND

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 17 June 1922, Page 5

IRELAND

fBEESWmp#to«TIM STATEMENT BY MR GRIFFITHS (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON; June 16 IMr Griffiths, before leaving’'‘London, in the course of a statement, said: •* The Constitution is that of a free, democratic .State under which Ireland for thp first time for centuries, secures the power and opportunity to develop her own resources and live her own national life-’’ Representatives of Southern Unionists whom Mr Churchill consulted have issued a statement in which they say that “while given an opportunity of seeing and discussing portions of the Constitution affecting the composition and relations of the two Houses, we neyer paw tHe other articles. While we recognise the desire shown to 1 meet our views, we regret that the precendent of the Senate under the acj, of 1920 has not been followed. We are not'satisfied the new Senate will a%rd genuine ' protection for Irish minorities.” PRESS COMMENT LONDON, June 16 The Daily Chronicle regards elective, ministers as a departure from Parlia ; mentary practice and ‘ p'rematui's in a country which has not yet put the older method into, working order.' The paper declares that the safeguards lor Protestants stand on too f thin ground.' ' The Senate practically is merely ah advisoi-y body and only able 1 to postpone legislation for 270 days. The- Chronicle points out that the .Da.il Eireann being’elected to-day may considerably ' amend " the draft. \ '' , The Westrainscter Gazette states that the Constitution conforms''to the Treaty and that" is all we want, to know* Has the Treaty made us right with .Ireland and the rest of the World? IS she was. worse governed under the old than under the new regime that is her affair.. The Morning Post says there is ho previous example of a British! dominion receiving a constitution while* its forces are actually fighting the British army. When violence and nothing else is governing Ireland, where is the sense of, discussing the terms of the Constitution, which like the Treaty, is a lie and a deception, its very nature in no wise affecting the Irish situation. ’ ' ' • The ' Daily. News says that nyne honestly willing to see autonomy granted to Ireland cap well quarrel with'the Constitution. Conversely, those doing so inust at heart he onnosed to granting apj real freedom to' Ireland. ’ The paper doubts the wisdom of the referendum and initiative provisions. : • The Belfast News-Letter states that the constitution has apparently beenim* • proved as a consequence of the conversations at Downing Street,, hut 'all depends on how it iS interpreted- in practice and what effort-the Free State Government will make to protect Protestants from persecution and spoliation. Thq, Irish Times/ regards the Constitution as a magnificent' charter .of domestic Government Within the Em,,pire to the furthest’-limit.- If the oath j is taken sincerely by the new Ireland mU stand on .the threshhold of a ’splendid career.” " , , . Freeman’s Journal is; cautions, and ‘point® out that’ the'cons^itUtibiri : ig still only a draft." Its appearance furnishes the final argument for the election 1 ,! of the- best men. , , - • , The Irish Independent, considers the provisions in regard to the' composition, and election of the Senate'as'elaborate and ingenious, but the method of’-ela-tion is unwieldy. ’ EVENTS IN BELFAST LONDON, June 16. Large soap and candle works in Belfast were destroyed by incendiaries toIday. A mob took advantage, of the ■fire to loot a member of 'shops, in the 'locality. . 1 . -