IRISH PROBLEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 15742, 6 February 1922, Page 3

IRISH PROBLEM.

THE BOUNDARY DTSPUTI

A SET ROUS CRISIS.

Elec. Tel Copyright—Uiiitrq Press Assn Australian anil N.Z. calne Association LONDON, Feb. 5.-

The British public is surprised at the latest turn of the Irish controversy, believing the dispute was merely a question of Hie rectification of boundaries.

Mr. Collins, in a statement, said the treaty with the British Government provides a boundary line. It is a question for the inhabitants of the areas concerned to decide and for them only. Jf we take the counties as a guide antipartition has a clear majority in two out of the six. If we lake the constituencies, county council areas, or parishes, antipartition gains very large areas in Down, Derry, and Armagh. : These are the facts. We can only come to agreements on the recognised facts. Our claim is that majorities must rule. Sir Janies Craig, interviewed, said that some portions of Northern Ireland have slight Sinn Fein majorities. Owing to the magnificent response of the loyalist population during the war, it is impossible for him to part with territory solemnly conveyed by Act of Parliament. There is no precedent for taking territory from a created State. Mr. Griffith, interviewed, said the Dail Firearm will not permit Nationalist Ulster to be coerced. Tt will not uso force against that part of Ulster voting itself putside the Free. State. Mr. Collins had made a statement that the people will decide the boundary. Any map marked under such a principle must give the Free Stale an immense area of Ulster. Ife suggests, in view of tho new situation, that Parliamentary representatives of the whole of Ireland ought to meet and adopt a policy and form a constitution. The only alternative was the resumption of the old disturbances and animosities.

Air. Collins’ statement represents the unanimous view of the Dail Eireann Ministry.

The Observer states that if anything beyond tho trimming and rectification of the Ulster boundary had been contemplated, the Irish treaty would not have stood a moment's chance of being ratified. Ulster will retain her statutory area in six counties intact, or there will bo civil war. If anything more than trimming is contemplated, the Coalition Government will .undoubtedly fall. Wo think it will turn out that Air. Lloyd George and his colleagues had nothing but trimming the boundary iii mind. If Alessrs. Griffith and Collins imagined a carving process was contemplated to the possible extent of shearing half of the present area of six counties, they fell under a most disastrous delusion.

» The Sunday Express says the British Government's existence is menaced by a complete backdown on the Irish settlement over the boundary dispute or a Conservative revolt. No majority in the present House will alter the Irish Parliament Act, 1920, against Ulster’s will. Cabinet must reach a decision before Parliament meets on Tuesday. ,i

(Received Feb. 6, 12.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 5.

An important conference on the Irish question was. held throughout Sunday. Messrs. Collins, Duggan, and OGliggins reached London and met Air. Churchill and Lord Birkenhead, and discussed the boundaries question. The general opinion in Dublin is more hopeful. The public believe a misunderstanding has arisen over the interpretation of tho clause; nevertheless, Air. Collins, in an interview, repeats that every member of the British delegation perfectly understood the Boundary Commission would mean the loss of Tyrone and Fermanagh to the Northern Parliament.