THE IRISH TREATY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17966, 16 December 1921, Page 7

THE IRISH TREATY.

DEBATE OPENED, I PREMIER AND ULSTER. y ARGUING NOT COERCING. : THE CHARGE OF SURRENDER 'ANSWER FROM EMPIRE. By Te^&raph—Prees Association—Copyright. (Received 5.5 p.m.) i. «,d N.Z LONDON. Dec. 14. The most intense interest was displayed in the opening of to-day's historic session 9 f Parliament, which the King carried out with full ceremonial. Though foggy feather prevailed, large ciowds lined the joutfl from the Palace. The Queen and princess Mary accompanied tho King, and were escorted by Lifo Guards in full i peace time regimentals. The massed Guards Bands, played the National Anthem as the Ring reached St. Stephens. In the House of Lords ther© was a full attendance of the diplomatic corps, induding the Ministers for Germany and Austria. These, as representing Republican States, did not wear any decorations. Mr. Lloyd George on leaving Downing Street received a tumultuous ovation. The King, addressing the House of Lords and Commons, said:— "I have summoned you to meet at this unusual timo in order that the articles of agreement i signed by my Ministers and the Irish : delegation nuy at onco be submitted to your approval. No other business will bo brought on in the present session. "It was with heartfelt joy that I learned of the agreement reached after negotiations protracted for many months, and affecting the welfare not only of Ireland, but the British and Irish races throughout the world. It is my earnest hope that by the articles of the agreement now submitted to you the strife of centuries ray be ended, and Ireland, as a free partner in the commonwealth of nations forming the British Empire, may secure the fulfilment of her natibnal ideals." After this brief 6peech the King and Queen returned to Buckingham Palace amid continuous cheers. A Better Way Than the Sword. When the House of Commons reassembled the Chamber was crowded. Mr. Lloyd George, on entering, was received with loud cheera from all parts. Colonel Sir Samuel Hoare (Unionist) moved the reply to the address, stating that the House was ready to consider and confirm the Irish agreement and offering to the King its humble congratulations on the work of reconciliation, to which His Majesty had so largely contributed. Sir Samuel Hoare said he hoped that with Irish peace established by Royal influence, it would be further strengthened by Royal residence in Ireland. It was evident that Mr. de Valera and his "Die Hards" did not regard the treaty as a British eurrender.'

"We wish to be friends, not enemies, of Ireland/' continued Sir .SamueL "After generations of attempt to settle the Irish question, it has been left to the King' to "find a better and surer way to peacti ton tho sword. We are making peace not because we are forced to do so, but because we want a permanent peace. Though we are thankful to be on the right * road to peace, we realise that a controversy that has existed for eight centuries cannot be ended by means of a Parliatary resolution. The Irish Free State has a difficult task ahead to consolidate a new and stable Government after centuries of agitation and unrest. Wreckers in Dublin are busy attacking the peace, let not the House of Commons make more difficult the task of goodwill." Major Harry Barnes (Liberal), seconding the reply, said: "We have made up our minds that Irishmen and Britishers in the future will live on the same terms pf amity, as existed between the Dominions and Britain." Mr. J. B. Qynes (Labour) said he regarded, the treaty as a Listing beneficent settlement of & trouble that had lasted for generations. . Irish Armaments Limited. Mr. Lloyd George, on rising, was received with cheers. He said that the articles of the agreement had been received everywhere with satisfaction and joy. They had been acclaimed throughout the Dominions and by : the Allies. Two . -great races had decided to work together in partnership, and he appealed to members to say nothing during the debate that *ould endanger their lasting friendship. The main operation of the scheme was to give Ireland Dominion 'status as a Free State within the Empire, with common citizenship, and owning and swearing allegiance to the King. The Irish would rule their own hearths, finance, and legislation. In connection with foreign affairs it was well to remember that Britain's tole control of them was vested in the Empire as a whole. Ireland would share the rights and responsibilities of the Empire, participating with other Free States in discussions on the Empire's policy. Ireland's history had to be considered in addition to her constitution and temperament. It was useless to apply Dominion Home Rule in a general case. There had also to be considered religious animosity and the new fuel which recent events bad added* to old flames. The very great difficulties concerning Ulster did not arise in connection with the other Dominions. If the state of things that had marked the last few years had continued, all Ireland's youths would have been trained as soldiers. Therefore, Hi the interest of the Empire and Ireland, a limit had been proposed to armaments. The whole forces of Ireland would not wceed 40,000. If Ireland broke the treaty it would be a matter for the Empire to deal with. Referring to the Navy, Mr. Lloyd Georje said that Ireland was never likely to raise a formidable navy. Ireland would take her share in defending her coast and > i" helping Britain to defend hers. The defence of these islands, however, must b* left to the British Navy. On the question of tariffs, the Government was reluctant that Ireland should have tlie right to put a tariff on British goods, but it must be remembered that Ireland was m We dependent on British trade than Britain dependent on Ireland. The Bisk of Tarifl War. Passing on to refer to Ulster, Mr. Lloyd "eorge said : "We are arguing with Ulster, lot coercing her. All we arc doing is to .;' recommend Ulster to accept the principle ™an All-Ireland Parliament. She has j . the option of joining the Irish Free State ;■. °r remaining as she is. I am against the coercion of Ulster, but I do not be- ;•'■';■■ «we in Ulster coercing her neighbours. ,- -Ulster would have trouble on her own I

threshold under present conditions,, so, it » proposed to establish a boundary comNo one can say whether Ulster'a boundaries will be increased or diminished. The wishes of the inhabitants will be considered." Mr. Uoyd George added that tiie Crown forces would he withdrawn from Ireland when the Provisional Government was established. Dealing with the charge that the treaty was surrender to rebellion and a derogation of the Crown's dignity, Mr. Lloyd George said that the answer was found in the feeling evoked throughout the Kmpire. ' It was said that the problem might have been settled a year ago, but wise statesmanship was knowledge of the right time to settle. He did not .believe that a settlement could have been made 12 months ago, because public opinion then was not ripe. Tho present agreement brought credit and strength to the Empire. In future our peril would be Ireland's, and our victory her glory. (Cheers). "Legislation of Treason." Sir Donald Mac Lean (Independent Liberal) paid a high tribute to Mr. Lloyd George, who, he said, had emerged from his greatest ordeal with a spirit characteristic of all tho great efforts he had undertaken in national affairs. Captain Charles Craig, speaking as leader of the Ulster members in the House of Commons, pointed out that the treaty was not ono between Britain and Ireland, but between Britain and Southern Ireland. Ulster had no part in it and repudiated it so far as her own area was concerned. The Sinn tfein oath in the document was not worth the paper on which it was written. It was legislation of treason. Ulster had been subjected to every sort of coercion except the sword. The press campaign, fed and organised by the Government, was one of the most disgraceful things in modern times.

Lord Hugh Cecil (Unionist) said lie oould not believe that there was any probability that the present plan of Irish Government would succeed, and ho thought the methods by which the agreement had been reached deserved the cen« sure of Parliament

Sir George Butcher (Unionist) said he could not support the treaty because it was a surrender to crime.

Colonel jj. Gretton (Unionistl will submit an amendment to the Address-in-Reply, regretting the settlement, on the ground that it involves the surrender of the Crown's rights in Ireland, gives power to establish an independent ;trmy and navy, requires further sacrifices from Ulster, and does not safeguard the rights of Southern loyalists.