Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-13
PROSPECTS FAVOR RATIFICATION,

III AN NPPNoAS ~ " s0SNS
Irish covenant recently framed in London and sign
ed by representatives Of the British government and
OF the southern Irish group will be ratified when
submitted to the proper bodies. Ratification by the
British parliament is a foregone conclusion The
administrations majority is so large and opinion
has been SO thoroughly behind the premier and his
cabinet in the Irish negotiations that there is abso-
tlutely no question Of the acceptance of the plan by
a very large majority.
The opposition of DeValera and one or two OF
his associates in the Irish cabinet caused a little flut-
ter for a moment, but a calm situation seems to have
followed, as it is regarded as almost certain that the
opposition will be decidedly in the minority, i'll the
Irish body, and inasmuch as the assent Of Ulster is
not required, action by these two bodies will be
final, Ulster being given the opportunity to. with
draw and revert to her present status within. a
month, should she desire to do so. ~
There has been some suggestion of submitting
the question to a plebiscite in Ireland. This course
is unlikely because what appears to be the majority
group III the Irish representative body is willing to
go ahead and assume the responsibility of ratifica-
ton on the assumption that it is thus expressing the
desire OF the Irish people. The opponents of ratifi-
cation would have nothing to gain by a plebiscite
because it is as certain as anything can be that if
the question were submitted to the free vote of the
Irish people the plan submitted would be ratified
by an overwhelming majority. u
The result Of the last Irish election is not to be
taken as a criterion in this case. 1t will be remem-
bered that when the recently inaugurated local gov
eminent plan was before the people of Ireland, and
members were elected to sit Representatives in
the northern and southern Irish parliaments, there
was not a single contest in all soutl ill.,. Ireland
none. but Sim Fem candidates were nominated
only, one for each district. Hence, there was no
real election; none was necessary. Under the forms
provided, the election went by default. 1t does not
follow that Sim Fein sentiment in southern Ireland
was or is unanimous. Nor does it follow that had
there been a real election in which voters and can
didates were at liberty to express themselves fully
and freely there would not have been a number of
very lively contests, with the possibility of a divided
representation. The southern part of the country
was under the terrorism inspired by a long period
OF unrest and violence, and things had reached a
pass where it was unsafe to become known to be in
sympathy with any other than the extreme policy
of the Sim Feiners. AS a matter of prudence, con-
test candidates did not present themselves, and in
dividuals who might have been in favor Of such can
didates were chary of expressing themselves. I'm
der the existing conditions all this would be chang
ed. There is a division in the ranks Of Sim Fein.
Some of the influential members Of that organiza-
ton are avowedly in'favor of accepting the compact
Others are opposed to it; And it goes without say
ing that it the question were to be submitted to a
vote of the people both factions would see to it that
those who approved their views were given full op-
%portunity to express themselves. There would
therefore be a lively contest and the real will of the
people would have an opportunity to express itself
What that will is there is little reason to question.
All the indications point to a powerful and FREEDOM.
mating sentiment in favor of closing up the unrest
and disturbance of the past and starting out afresl
along the lines which have now been made possible