IRELAND.

Western Star, 7 February 1922, Page 3

IRELAND.

LONDON, February 3

Sir James Craig: conferred, with Mr' Churchill over the boundaries deadlock, and subsequently in a statement to the press, ho isaid : " When the treaty ' was made between the Imperial Government and representatives of Southern Ireland, Ulster was assured there would merely be a rectification of boundaries and not a transfer of large areas, and the Southern representatives never challenged this interpretation. Yesterday Mr Collins adopted a very different attitude. It appeared to mo ho had been driven by his extremists to reverse hie former policy of conciliation. He stated definitely that the differences between us wore, sra wide. that postponement of the disar--iuu would) itot serve a. useful purpose. The present situation, therefore, is not of my making. On the contrary, I have seriously endeavoured to avoid it."

Sir James Craig said' Mr Collins him maps indicating that Mr Collins had already .premised! to bri;:g into the Free State almost half the area of 'Northern Ireland, including Fermanagh, Tyrone, Armagh, and Down, ali~o Dcrry City, Imikkilling and Newry. Southern Ireland threats that Sinn Feinors will make the Northern Government ineffective by noii-co-opora-tiiin are rousing a defiant spirit in Ulster. Already a. dangerous situa-

tiou is developing in D'orry, where a public demonstration was held.

The Mayor (Air O'Doherty) declared that " what the people have done to Belfast can be done again. This fight is going to be no child's- play. Nationalists born in the six counties are not going tc sell their birthright

for a mess of pottage. If the abortion of the Parliament of Belfast continues to -flout the will of the Irish people, tTie fight will go on with the gloves off."