The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-10
DOMINION
STATUS FOR
IRELAND
The Irish Agree to Ac-
cept Place in British
Empire on Same
Basis as Canada

London, Dec. 6 (By the Asso-
ciated Press)-The centunes-old
quarrel between England and Ire
land WAS ended, as had been Ter
vently hoped in the small hours OF
Tuesday morning by the signature
in the prime minister's cabinet
room of "a treaty between Great
Britain and Ireland" consisting OF
is articles, giving Ireland the title
Of the Irish Free State and the
same constitutional status as Can
ada, Australia and the other over
seas dominions. The question of
allegiance which up to the last mo-
ment threatened to wreck the ne
sotiations was surmounted by per
hitting the members of the Irish
parliament to swear allegiance to
the constitution Of the Irish Free
State and be faithful to his maj
esty the king"
The treaty has yet to run the
gauntlet Of the Ulster government
and Of the imperial parliament.
The imperial parliament has been
summoned to meet On December
IA, and will be opened in state by
the king, who had taken the closest
personal interest in the Irish ne
gotiations since he practically in
stituted them when he opened the
Irish parliament. Approval by the
imperial parliament is a foregone
conclusion, as the government has
an Overwhelming majority in the
house Of commons favorins its
Irish policy and the action of the
British representatives in reaching
the agreement has already been
unanimously indorsed by the cabi-
net. The position Of Ulster is less
certain Evidence comes from
Belfast tonight that the treaty will
be subjected to the most searching
examination before receiving as
sent and doubtless many modiflca-
tions will be proposed.
The king FASTENED TO send the
prime minister telegram con-
graduating him on the success Of
the negotiations and declaring. Il
am overjoyed TO hear this splendid
news The kis,g VII come to Lon
don purposely tomorrow to preside
over the privy council to approve
the proclamation suumoning par
lament, as the constitution re-
ouires six days notice by the roy
al proclamation.
The treaty was signed by all the
members of the British and Irish
delegations participating in the ne
gotiations. the Irish delegates sign
ing their Gaelic names.
Ireland is treated as single
entity in the provisions Of the treaty
with special clauses providing
against the possibility that Ulster
should refuse acquiescence in the
settlement, in which case the gov
ernment Of Ireland, act Of 1920
will remain in force so far as the
northern parliament is concerned
but with the stipulation that a sDe-
cial commission shall determine
new boundaries for northern Ire
land.
Provisions also are made for the
cooperation Of the two parlia-
ments in providing certain safe
guards in the event OF Ulster re-
naming out Of the new free state
Neither parliament, however. vii
be permitted under the treaty tc
make laws endowing any particular
religion CIR to impose any religious
disability. The treaty looks tc
ireland in the future undertaking
its coastal defense and provide:
that Ireland shall in time Of war
give the British forces necessary
harbor and other facilities. 1t fur
ther, by providing against internal
ional limitation Of armaments, rec
ogniZes the Irish Free States righ