THE ULSTER BOUNDARY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19258, 23 August 1924, Page 9

THE ULSTER BOUNDARY

INTENTION OF THE TREATY. FREE STATE OFFICIALS’ CLAIM. Proos Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 21. Mr El J. Duggan, one of the signatories of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and Parliamentary Secretary to the Dree State Council, referring to the assertion that Northern Ireland was not consulted in the treaty settlement, emphasised that when the treaty negotiations were in progress the Irish plenipotentiaries claimed all Ireland as the proper unit of government, but they were compelled to recognise the fact of the existence of a section of ,“our people’’ who disagreed, at present at any rate, with the aims of the majority. The British and Irish plenipotentiaries at first endeavoured to work out a scheme for the unification of Ireland involving the continuance of local self-government in the north-east. The representatives of Northern Ireland, however, refused point blank to enter into discussions unless the proposal was withdrawn. “When it is said that Northern Ireland was not consulted," continued Mr Duggan, ‘‘it should be remembered that this was mainly due to its refusal even to consider the possible lines of a settlement. it was clearly understood that the purposes of the Commission were not merely to rectify an inconvenient border, but to prevent the infliction of injustice on people desiring to remain in the Free State. The Irish signatories held and expressed this view from the first. Moreover, the same interpretation was plainly put forward by Lord Birkenhead and Air Llayd George.’’—A. and N.Z. Cable. ATTITUDE OF ULSTER. OPPOSED TO TRANSFER OF LARGE AREAS. LONDON, August 21. (Received August 22, at 5.5 p.m.) The Daily Herald’s Belfast correspondent says: “Despite every attempt to keep secret the result of Mr Baldwin's and Sir L. Worthington-Evans’s conferences with Sir James Craig, it is freely rumoured in Unionist circles that a definite understanding was reached. Ulster, though refusing to nominate a Boundary Commissioner, does not intend to oppose the establishment of a Commission by Britain. If the Commission’s report vindicates the Ulster viewpoint regarding the intention of Article 12 and recommends only minor rectifications Ulster will accept the finding. On the other hand, if it recommends the transfer of considerable areas to the Free State Ulster will reject the findings and challenge Britain to do her worst.’’—A. and N.Z. Cable.