THE TREATY WITH IRELAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 7

THE TREATY WITH IRELAND

SECOND READING CARRIED.

MAJORITY OF 222 FOR BILL.

LABOUR AND LIBERAL SUPPORT.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright A. and N.Z. LONDON, Feb- 17.

In the House of Commons, Sir L, Worthiiigton Evans. Minister for War, resumed the debate on the Irish Free State Bill. Ho denied that the bargain under the 1920 Art had been broken. On the contrary, Ulster's position under the Act had been maintained. He submitted concerning /the boundary question that it would not be called coercion to consult the wishes of the inhabitants. There should be give and take along the boundary ; that should be something Ulster f'hould welcome. Acceptance of Captain Craig's amendment that the House should not proceed with the Bill until the Government gave assurances that no decision of the Boundary Commissioners would take effect without the approval of the Northern Parliament, meant rejection of the treaty and betrayal of the Irishmen who signed it, as well as tho end of peace in Ire'and.

Lord Hugh Cecil thought the Bill should be rejected. It was not the proper method of carrying out the treaty. It wag the Government's duty to maintain order until the new constitution was framed so as to avoid a dreadful interregnum during which there would be no government of Ireland at all. The interpretation of the boundaries should be in the Bill. The Government was in this astounding position, that it rested with the Boundary Commission to decide whether it wou'd break faith with tho Ulster Government. The Government was looking on in a state of interested curiosity to see whether it was a cheat and liar or not.

Mr. H. H. Asquith spoke for a few moments. He said he hoped the House, by a significant majority, would pass the Bill in the briefest possible time. He uived the Government not to recede from the terms on the boundary question, which was an integral part of the treaty.

Mr. J. H. Thomas, on behalf of the Labour Party, urged adoption of the Bill. The chief difficulty with which Mr, Griffith and Mr. Collins were confronted, he said, was not Mr. de Valera's followers, but the advocates of a Soviet republic.

Captain Craig's amendment waa rejected by 302 votes to 80, and tho Bill was rearf a second time and referred to a committee of the whole House.

CAPACITY TO GOVERN.

SIR H. PLUNKETT'S VIEWS.

A PLEA FOR PATIENCE.

Australian and X.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Feb. 18.

Sir Horace Flunked, sailed for Cherbourg to-day. He said that many Americans asked whether Irishmen were not raisin,-; a doubt as to their capacity for self-government. " I do not think," ho continued, " that such critics understand the extraordinary conditions tinder which Ireland exists. The American struggle for freedom was as much retarded by d'fferonces among Americans as our struggle is by differences among ourselves. Everything is bound to go wrong before it is righted, but there is no alternative to self-government. Any attempt to restore British rule would result in a prolongation of the present troubles."