IRELAND.

Temuka Leader, Issue 10306, 7 March 1922, Page 4

IRELAND.

THE IRISH 'TREATY DILL. LONDON, March 3. Tho Irish debate was resumed. Lord Hugh Cecil in moving an amendment, declared that tho Government did not intend to agree to the transfer of any, great area of the six Counties," but only to minor adjustments of the^oundry. Mr "Ronald "McNeill quoted Mr Michael Collins as having said that Sir James Craig had been tricked by his own friends. Mr Churchill intervened, saying that any alleged promise given to Messerß Griffith and Collins that Fermanagh and Tyrone would be handed over was absolutely untrue He could not accept an amendment interpreting tho Treaty. Captain Craig declared that tho Government had got itself into a dreadful mess and must break pledges to either Ulster or the Sinn Fein. Mr Churchill moved tho closure, which wae carried by.- 109 to 100, amid cries of "gag." The amendment was negatived by 190 to 163. Lord Hugh Cecil moved that the Chairman of tho Boundary Commission should be appointed by the Government with the consent of both Houses. It was desirable to have security that the Government should make a proper,appointment. Sir Hamar Greenwood said the Government; should EotVdelesate their responsibility. The amendment was negatived without a division. Captain Craig's-amendment that no part of-the boundary should be altered without North Ireland's consent was negatived by 107 to 51. In tho House of Commons Mr C. Percy moved' an-amendment designed to prevent Ireland seceding from the Empire and quoted Mr Bonar Law to the effect that Dominions had a perfect right to secede if they wished. Mr Churchill refused to accept this as a final pronouncement of tho constitutional law of the empire. If the tluestion was raised it could be pressed in one direction or another to a. conclusion which would not be edifying and not helpful, but which the Dominions never claimed. We never admitted the right of secession, he said. He deprecated tho attempt, more precisely to define the status of Ireland or other dominions which was better left to the easy forward movement of. unity and confidence which had enabled us to 6tancl together and carry the structure of Imperial inheritance through every peril. The amendment was- lost by 200 to 53.