Cheraw chronicle. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1896-2005, 1921-12-15
Treaty Between Great Britain
and Ireland Is Signed and
Peace Is in Sight.
IRISH FREE STATE CREATED
Full independence Within Empire 10
Granted-Ulster Given Its Choice
- ouadrupIe Understanding
on Pacific Is Announced In
PIenary Session OF
tho Conference.
By EDWARD w. PIcKARD

nEACE and amity between Great
I Britain and Ireland are In sight,
after many a long year OF bitter en-
mity and intermittent fighting. Just
as the outlook seemed darkest, Lloyd
George and the Sim Fein delegates ar
rived at an agreement that solved the
tangled problem and signed a treaty
which creates the Irish Free State as
sister nation Of the British empire
like Canada, Australia, New Zeaiand
and South Africa. Its constitution is
to be based on that Of Canada, ana
the representative Of the crown IN Ire
land is to be chosen In the same way
as the Canadian viceroy.
By clever juggling Of words and
phrases the peace delegates evolved
an oath Of allegiance that the irish
were willing to accept. 1t must De
taken by every member OF the lrish
parliament and is as follows:
"I do solemnly swear true faith and
allegiance to the constitution OF the
Irish Free State as by law established
and that I will be faithful to his mai
esty King George V, and his heirs
and successors by law, In virtue OF the
common citizenship Of Ireland with
Great Britain and her adherence TO
and membership Of the group OF ma
tions forming the British common
wealth of nations"
Ireland Is to have her own army and
coast defenses and to control her own
finances. She admits liability for a
share Of the British debt, and Britain
retains the right to control certain
ports.
AS for Ulster. while speedily In
formed Of the treaty, she Is not even
asked to consent to it. The northern
counties are to be included In the
irish Free State, with local autonomy,
but have a month to decide whether
they prefer their present status, and
during that time "the powers OF the
parliament and government OF the
Irish Free State shall not be exercis-
able as respects northern Ireland" II
Ulster elects to retain her present
status. her boundary lines are to be
fxed by commission Of three.
AT this writing Ulster has not acted
formally concerning the treaty, but 1t
is predicted 1t will approve 1t. All
Great Britain, except very few OF
the most rabid Unionists, are enthusi-
astically for the pact and the southern
Irish themselves seem fairly we'll sat-
isfied and decidedly relieved. They
should be happy, for they gain practi-
cally everything they have asked ex-
cept actual separation from the Brit
ish empire. The treaty is yet to be ac-
cepted formally by the Irish parlia-
ment and the Dali Eireann and by the
British parliament, which has been
summoned to special session. "Presi-
dent" de Valera declares himself
against the agreement, but the real
rulers of Sim Fein are Arthur Griffith
and Michael Collins. both Of whom
signed the pact gladly. Mr.. Griffith
said:
"These proposals give Ireland the
control OF her own destinies and place
our future in our own hands. They
enable us to stand on our own feet
and to develop our own civilization
and national .distinctiveness. They
constitute regainment Of Irish liber-
ty after q struggle Of centuries"