The Washington herald., 1921-12-12
The Irish Free State.

w/HEN the Brtsh-Irsh truce was declared,
w The Herald said there would be
renewal of the warfare, but that the truce meant
settlement We have changed this behef'
based upon British human nature and Irish human
nature. Now that settlement has come, we Just as
firmly believe that the British and Irish VIII be
most loyal partners and the best OF friends. 1t will
be necessary to wait two years, to make 1t
yery risky thing to abuse Britain to an lrishman.
The terms of the settlement make Ireland
free state within the British commonwealth AS
Mickey" Collins says it gives Ireland complete
freedom of self-development. She will be unham-
pered in the expression in her own national lie, oil
whatever is distinctly Irish, and in government as
in production and trade, in politics and social liie
she can make the Irish personality, Irish talent
Irish genius, her gift to world progress. NO peo-
pie need than the entire right to selt-expres-
sion.
Nor is there the slightest danger THAT Dali
Ejreann will not ratify the pact The Dali named
its agents its own peace delegates. 1t VIII not
repudiate them. De Valera notsof the num-
Der and he was omitted for the very good reason
that the Irish themselves preferred that he stay at
home He has an unhappy admixture OF the blood
OF Spain which renders his usefulness very much
OF minus quality. He succeeded in splitting Irish
sympathy in this country and has done little but
drive wedges since he got back to Ireland. As a
negotiator he is impossible and opponent Of
Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins he is hopeless.
Probably no two Irish leaders more
worshipped than Griffith and Collins. To follow
them has been the summit of Irish pride. Ii to the
settlement is added the retirement OF De Valera.
ireland will indeed be fortunate. That he should
be able to block acceptance, is impossible; that he
should attempt it, measures his lack OF real loyalty
to Ireland. 1t has been harder road because OF
him and men OF any less Caliber than Griffith and
Collins could hardly have won. Lloyd George has
added equally to his distinction. Not during the
war nor since has he had to face difficult prob
lem nor prove conclusively that combined
with the superstivey adrot and clever, he has a
rarely equalled gilt OF craftsmanship.
1t is possible that the sequence OF events had
to be just as they to bring complete re-
suit 1t is possible that British tenacity and Irish
resistance had to be tested and run the limit even
to the vicousness of reprisals. 1t this which
gave to King George, removed from both the strife
and personal responsibility. the opportunity to
which he aptly and genuinely responded at
Belfast 1t was this. too, which gave Jan SHUTS
and other Dominion heads their opportunity Truce
followed permanent fact. British tcnacity
proves but an index OF British patience. and Irish
resistance developed the strategy OF adrot but not
unyielding negotiation.
, Britain and Ireland have come TO terms the
final sequence with large measure OF mutual re-
spect. At last they know each other and have
tested to the limit each others mcttlc. They have
| been the worthy foes who make tried friends.
! Ulster is Of kind different from either. We do
not blame her for staying outside. She is best
there for the time and until softcning influences,
and proof that this is the Twentieth the Six
teenth century make her wiling party. Marriage
with suspicion most unhappy household.