Irish Compromise

Two Irishmen negotiated a difficult compromise with that amiably typical John Bull, Premier Stanley

Baldwin. The two Irishmen were Sir James Craig, Premier of Ulster,* and President Cosgrave of the Irish Free State./-

The compromise which they at length agreed upon concerned the much contested frontier between Ulster and the Irish Free State-- between industrial Protestant Northern Ireland and agrarian Catholic Southern Ireland. For many months the Irish Boundary Commission, created under Article XII of the Treaty of 1921 between Great Britain and the Irish Free State, has been attempting to decide how this vital if imaginary line could be drawn "in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants, so far as may be compatible with economic and geographic conditions." The plain truth of the matter proved to be that "the wishes of the inhabitants," so blandly referred to by the Treaty, were apt to lead straight to civil war. If the boundary were changed, "Ulster will not yield an inch!" Equally there would be a cracking of skulls if it were not changed, since "the Free State will never rest until the Catholic provinces of Ulster are on true Irish soil!"

With the nationals of both districts so inflammably minded, the labors of the Commission in trying to take account of the many quirks in the frontier which are economically and geographically irksome,** proved vain. One of the three Commissioners resigned, and it was feared last week that if the other two should publish their report-- any kind of report--Ulsterites and Free Staters might begin the age-old game which is now played with rifles instead of blackthorn sticks.

In these circumstances Premier Craig and President Cosgrave met with Premier Baldwin and decided that, since nobody dared to touch the frontier, the only thing left was a settlement in cash. To them Article V of the Treaty of 1921 seemed to offer a chance for such a settlement. It provided that another Commission (never convoked) should at some date decide how much of Britain's War debt the Irish should pay. Since the Irish Free State is highly impecunious, it has been thought likely that no payments would ever be made. Why not release the Free State from this "impracticable obligation" on condition that Free Staters cease to demand that part of Ulster be ceded to them?

Shorn of legal verbiage the agreement signed by the Englishman and the two Irishmen* last week amounts to exactly the compromise stated. Articles V and XII of the Treaty of 1921 are to be scrapped, the boundary is to stay where it is, and the Free State is to be released from its obligation to pay part of Britain's War debt, pensions, etc., while agreeing to compensate victims of the active fighting in Ireland which immediately preceded the present status quo. As a final touch, the abortive Irish Council, which has never met, was scrapped, and its never exercised powers, so far as they affect Ulster, transferred to the Ulster Government.

As Sir James and President Cosgrave returned to Ireland with their copies of the agreement, no observer was bold enough to predict its ratification by their respective parliaments. Though England is superficially the chief loser under the engagement, Mr. Baldwin is con- sidered to have gained a great deal if he can pacify the Free Staters by relieving them of a debt beyond their means.

*Officially "Northern Ireland." Under the Government of Ireland Act (1920) and the Irish Free State Act (1922) it enjoys a separate parliament and executive government The resident British Governor is James Albert Edward Hamilton, Baron Earl and Duke of Abercorn, former Treasurer to His Britannic Majesty's Household. He bears much the same relation to Parliament and Premier as does the Governor-General of Canada.

/- Officially Saorstat Eireann, constituted under the Acts of 1920 and 1922 and the Treaty of 1921 between Great Britain and the Irish Free State. The Legislature is known as the Oireachtas; the House as the Dail Eireann; the Senate as teh Seanad Eireann; and President William T. Cosgrave as Liam T. Mac Cosgair. The "President" presides over the Executive Council of Ministers, ther being no "Premier." The British Governor-General is Timothy Michael Healy, K. C., famed Irish barrister, author of why Ireland is Not Free, Loyalty Plus Murder, etc. The constitution of the Irish Free State declares it to be coequal member of the British Commonwealth of Nations. --

**At several points carters are compelled to travel for miles to bring goods from their origin in one country only a few hundred yards to their destination in the other.