IRISH NEWS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19234, 26 July 1924, Page 10

IRISH NEWS.

THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION. AN IMPERIAL TASK. MR T. P. O'CONNOR’S ADVANCEMENT. (From Ode Own Correspondent.) LONDON, June 11. Mr Ramsay MacDonald’s entertainment of the Irish Prime Ministers at Chequer* recently led to no definite result, and so (he British Prime Minister has taken action. Mr Justice Foetham has been made chairman of the Boundary Commission, and as he is unknown in Ireland, ooinion is affected by the fact that only an appointment has been made—which pleases Dublin and displeases Belfast. But (according to the Dublin correspondent of the Sunday Observer) Belfast is somewhat reassured and Dublin, somewhat dashed bv the announcement that tho Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is to pronounce on tho situation created by Ulster’s refusal to appoint a representative. The proposal to join Canadian and Australian judges to the tribunal for this purpose shows very fitly the gravity which British Ministers attach to it. They want to carry the dominions with them in what tliev do. Suppose the finding of the court to be unfavourable to Ulster’s contention, •he possibility of Ulster’s resisting: it will be appreciably lessened. Suppose it is unfavourable to the Free State, the whole proceeding will be denounced in Ireland as a corrupt trick, but the British Government’s position will be strengthened in regard to international opinion. Looking at it from a broader point of view, Ireland’s contention is that the task of solving this problem falls upon Great Britain. To impose a solution by force is a very grave matter, and if the Free State is to be satisfied, no other course is possible. Before a Labour Government, in a minority in the-House of Commons, attempt to tackle such a task, it needs to range behind it in the most explicit whatever can serve to make them representative, not of party, but of the Empire and the British people. So, though it may be natural, it is not reasonable for Ireland to grumble at the slow and cautious approach. MISS M'SWINEY’S APPROVAL. Meanwhile, we learn that Sir James Craig has the anproval of Mies Mary M'Swiney. She describes him as “like themselves (tho Republicans) in that he said whirl he meant and he meant what he said, _ They could yet make a loyal citizen of him, and if ho did not listen to reason he would have to listen to something else.” It is to bo feared that Miss M'Swiney and her friends have not a correct idea of the relative npu‘tnry strength of the North-east in comparison to the rest of Ireland—even supposing be rest united. However, sno tells her hearers that “What lost Limerick, in so far as it had been lost, was that the people did not come to realise that the vote for freedom did not mean war.” In other words, the Republican contention is that the Treaty can be set aside without fear of consequences. It should lie noted that Dr Dignam, the newly-elected Bishop of Galway has declared that ho is confident that a Republican Party will shortly come into » P °Mr r T. P. O’Connor’s advancement to the Privy Council will no doubt earn him a good manv insults. But this honour has given pleasure to his many friends, and. probably to many times as many to whom ( he is only a name. ,It would be poor praise to say that he earned it. Very few men have so combined tho gifts of writing ana speaking, and hardly anyone has put out more work. Also, if Mr O’Connor had politely said adieu to Irish, politics 20 years aco he would probably be 30 times as well off as he is to-day. There was never a more marketable talent than his; but k you deal on tho principle that Ireland must b-3 first served, your advantages will be notably restricted.