IRISH FREE STATE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16902, 29 November 1922, Page 5

IRISH FREE STATE.

CONSTITUTION BILL. 1 SECOND READING CARRIED. fey • - Vress Association —Copyright Auirraiihu anti _\.Z. Cable Association. 1 LONDON, November 28. The Irish Constitution Bill was read i a second time without a division. Mr Ronald Mac Neill (Under-Secre- j tarv ot' State tor Foreign Affairs) re- j pudiated the charge that he had taken i office in order to ratify the Treaty, j He made it perfectly clear. months i sgo. that while be regarded the policy °i the Treaty as disastrous and inclefen- > si hie, he recognised that the mischief hid been done, and consequently ParJrimeut had no choice but to pass it. Captain Craig, Voicing Ulster's optn- I ii»n regarded the Treaty as a most dangerous document. He did not agree w ith the rosy prophesies made by -Mr Saklatvala. He moved the ro- , iection of the* Bill, contending that the Treaty was based on coercion, and .signed under stress. The only euro for Irish wrongs was a genuine right <*f \ sell-determination. He would l>e no party to a Treaty which was a greater mockery than an act of union. Mr Newbould (Communist) seconded i the amendment lor the rejection ot the Bill. ''»it' John Butcher contended that the Bill did not enact the terms of the T reaty, and ought to be amended. Mr Bonnr Law, in moving the, second reading ot the Bill, said everyone desired that the Treaty should he ( given a chance. The Lord Chief Jus- j tice and the Law Officers were of opinion that the Constitution was in accordance with the Treaty. He recommended the Bill to the House, and said he did not entertain a fear regarding the result. He hoped that the Constitution would in every way he successful. .Mr Bonar Law said the Free State must work out its own salvation, but he hoped it would have the moral support that Britain had never bad in the last seven hundred years, and that the two countries i might enjoy good relations. We must not. he said, give any excuse to the I people of Ireland tor thinking that w« were not fulfilling our part. Mr Cos- j grave had told him. " Whatever hap- j pens, the people of Ireland are deieil. ined on peace with Britain. '* Not only- neutrals like himself, but oppon- 1 eats of the Treaty, would rejoice as , whole-heartedly as the supporters ii the Treaty were successful. Mr Ramsay MacDonald (Leader of tin* Labour Opposition) associated himself entirely with the Premier's '*l»eech. He shared the hope that the Treaty would bring goodwill and happi- l ness to that spirit of conciliation which | ali past experiments in governing Ire- « land failed to produce. He hoped there would never b© any attempt to define in rigid, legal form. the ro- j lationship between the dominions. He* \\ :»s struck by the extraordinary n.um- , her of new democratic experiments that j the Irish Government proposed to . make. Colonel Gretton (Conservative mem- j her for Staffordshire) asked with whom the Treaty was made. There was a large body in Ireland who did not 1 accept it as a final settlement of the Irish question. Sir John Simon (chairman of the Liberal Party) warmly supported the j Rill on behalf of the Independent Lib- ! erals. FTe said there was a real | element of confidence and hope in the I fact that the Constitution was drafted j 1. Irishmen. Mr Douglas Hogg. Attorney-General, | replying to criticism* said that Article ITI. created a status hitherto unknown to the British constitution or any dominion. Whether they went to Australia or Canada for a parallel, they would find in either that British subiects were sometimes not granted the rights of the franchise or the privileges of citizenship. Mr Bonar Law. replying to a question. said he agreed that the constitution entitled the Free State to separate. , representation on the League of Xa- 1 The Rill was read a second time. THE MILITARY PROBLEM. LOXDOX. Xovember 28. The “ Daily Chronicle " had an interview with Mr Cosgrave. who said:-- “ I believe the end of the military problem is in sight and that warfare 1 will gradually collapse. I have a I chance of being shot down, but that j makes no difference. If we thought j we could establish peace without executions. we would do so. But L am afraid there will have to be further i executions before the trouble is ended, i They have already had their effect. If the Irregulars will offer to surrender i ♦ heir arms now, I will persuade the | Cabinet to stop the executions.” ! CAPTURE OF LEADERS. LONDON. November 27. j Ihe Nationalists have captured Mi I Humphrey Murphy, head of the Republicans in Kerry, and four other I lende rs. MINISTERS PROTECTED. x>y Telegraph —Association—Copyright luatrali n •ml vz. « able Association. LONDON. Noember 27. I lie "Daily Chronicle's ” Dublin correspondent states that the Southern j Government has taken energetic meator its own protection. Sentries 1 with fixed bayonets are on guard at the floors of Government offices in M**r ! i ion Square. The windows are covered 1 -with bomb-proof netting, while barbed "ite has been extensively used to cover i Ihe approaches at the top of the stair*. | Inside there is a post with a bullet- ! resisting shield, with holes for rifles i and machine-guns Ministers live on the premises, and work with revolvers ( handy. Knowing that they are marked n on, they are prepared to sell their I lives dearly. Meantime. untrained | men are being withdrawn from the Southern Army and sent to Curragh for intensive training. There are now :)0,000 in the National Army, while the ! Republicans art estimated at 3000. The latter, h-v.-vor. are receiving plenty of arms and ammunition from Germany and the United States.