Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-06-17

Dublin, June l4,--Qulte a pleasant
vista Is opened TO Irish householders
by the announcement that American
coal has already reached these shores
and that IL is possible to retail IL at
prices which would compete success
fully with those of English, Welsh and
Scotch coal. The proposition has come
so swiftly into the realm of practicality
that IL Is not yet fully realized. But
think | am correct in saying that al
ready it is an accomplished fact. What
II means to this country IL is irnpos-
siblo TO over-estimate With the cx-
eeption of the very small and inade-
quate quantity of coal produced from
Irish mines the country has hitherto
been absolutely dependent ON British
coal for its railways, It's factories and
it's domestic consumption. Now with
the great coal strike in Britain a single
cargo of coal has not reached an Irish
port for months.
Even II the strike were settled
of which at the moment there Is little
prospect il would he months befse
n cargo would he spared for ireland.
The outlook was therefore black i'm
the extreme. A few weeks ago the
President of the United States COL
liery Investment Trust of New York
came to Dublin and Immediately book
ed experimental orders for two car
goes one fof. Guinness Brewery. and
the other for the Great Northern Rail-
way Co. Both have now arrived. and
hear that others are being dispatched
from American ports. The success of
tho idea is shown by the fact that
other American Coal companies have
sent their Representatives here and
keen competition is expected TO result
by which the consumer will benefit
In addition to American Coal we
have also received in the past few
days cargoes of coal from belgium.
This also helps 10 brighten the pros
peCt. The coal from Belgium was of
course originally intended for British
ports but in view Of the fact that
British labor is joined up with the
mines and refuses to handle imported
coal. ireland reaps the advantage.
Irish labor has not SO far been in
volvcd IN the British strike trouble
and Is not likely To- he. The tendency
OF Irish labor has latterlv been rather
TO keep clear OF British complications.
Especially has this been tho case
since the Irish munitions strike. Dur
ing that time while British labor re-
fused to ship munitions Of war to
Poland IL continued without a nurmur
to send them 10 ireland notwithHtand-
ing the fact that irish railway men
and Irish duckers we're being dis
missed daily because they refused to
touch them. That fact is not forgotten
and is not likely to be. and ii may hc
the means of saving ireland from the
cold winter which has been generally
apprehended.
The successful opening up Of n coal
trade on a big scale with America
brings with it. OF course. other trade
possibilities. At present there is
tentative trade carried on by a single
lino OF cargo steamers but. big de-
velopment Of this is not improbable.
The great drawback is the scarcity of
return cargo. While the country is
in the present disturbed state natural
~ the production will not be what IL
ought to be but political settlement
cannot be much longer delayed for with
peace established the reaction on trade
will be immediate. That is the feeling
Of people who ought TO know.
At the present moment when the
air is thick with rumors of efforts be-
ing made TO settle the Irish question,
people who only think superficially on
the subject are apt to forget what is
the real crux of the question-snamely
Ulster. There can hardly be any set
tlement without absolute agreement
with this northern province, and as
far as one can see oil and water are
as likely to shed their natural indis-
position TO mix as Ulster is To acquiese
ness OF ireland is to be maintained.
And unity of the country appears to
be an indispensable condition so far as
the leaders of the Sim Fein and ResI
publican party are concerned. obvi-
ously if there is to be settlement by