New-York tribune., 1921-12-11
Peace Will Give
Irish an Envoy
AT w asllington
British Observer Points Out
Constitutional Importance
of Linking Erin's Claims
With the Status of Canada
Oath Is Adroitly Handled
Will Not Be Taken by Exist
ing Dali; Vital Interests
of England Safeguarded
By P. w. Wilson

For gears -amerfcan correspondent Of
"The London Daily Neacs' and former
Newber of Parliament.
Copyright, 1891 New York Tribune Inc.
After q careful analysis Of the docu-
aents, may now explain, step by step,
what is likely to be the progress of the
Irish settlement to final and successful
completion.
The terms of peace must be ratified
both in Great Britain and in Ireland.
Taking Great Britain first, King George
will open Parliament next Wednesday.
By that time the treaty, signed this
week. will have been embodied in bill
having legal effect. Presumably, all
other serious business, chiefly of n
financial nature, will be postponed
until this bill shall have been passed.
In both houses, Lords and Commons, it
must be read.a first and second time,
then discussed in committee. sfterwa I'd
discussed again on report, and finally
read third time. 1t is then presented
to the King for royal assent. Under
ordinary circumstances such Iegisla-
t'on would occupy Parliament for
months. In the Commons, however, it
can be accelerated by consent or by
closure, and the Lords also can, if they
wish, deal rapidly with such situa-
tion. The bill cannot be amended or
obstructed without endangering the
peace. and obviously the intention is to
rstify before Christmas. If Ulster re-
fuses, she will be swept aside. She
will not be allowed q "tilibuster"
In the mean time the treaty, as it
stands, will have been submitted to
the Dahl Eireann. Precisely what form
will there be agreed upon for ratifca-
tion is not yet announced, but a simple
resolution would be sufficient. The
Dali Eireann has no second chamber
corresponding 10 Senate or House Of
Lords
With the treaty thus legalized, the
month allowed to northern Ireland for
her great decision would begin. If
that automatically she has Joined the
Irish Free State. In order to exclude
herself, she must pass addresses to
that effect in both her houses of Par
lament at Belfast.
Legislature Without Senate
In the mean time the Dali Eireann,
as 1t exists to-day, will become, on
ratification OF the treaty, the Provis-
ional Parliament Of the Irish Free
State. The Sim Fein Cabinet re-
sponsible to the Dali Eireann, will be
the provisional executive. Ireland will
thus have legislature with one
chamber only. There will be at Dub
lin no Senate and no House of Lords
The provisional governments author
ity is limited to one year of office.
Within that period there must be an
election in ireland. If Ulster stands
out the election will not apply to her,
and for obvious reasons it will not be
held until listers month has expired.
The status Of the new Ireland is to
be that of Canada. This means that
Ireland is nation among nations. The
treaty makes no reference % the United
Kingdom, and the Britis' Empire is ex-
pressly defined as ommonwealth of
nations" Canada has su, cessfdlly as
serted her right to have diplomatic
representative at Washington and
trade agents wherever she wants. The
dominion may, if she wishes, negotiate
4 treaty with a foreign power, and she
has announced that she will not recog-
nize the Anglo-Japanese alliance if it
continues. The linking of Canadian
with Irish national claims is thus Of
great constitutional Importance.
According to this parallel, the Gov
ernor General of Ireland, as of Canada,
will DE appointed by the Grown after
consultation with the Irish government,
and he will be able to act only by the
advice of that government.
The King and his heirs to the throne
are acknowledged, which means that
the new Ireland admits a hereditary
succession based upon statutes passed
by the British Parliament. Like other
nations within the British common
wealth, Ireland thus becomes re-
public clothed in the ceremonial of a
monarchy. The oath of allegiance has
been most adroitly handled. The ex-
listing Dali Eireann will not take it
at all. but will merely sign assent to
the treaty of peace. In other words,
there will be no individual oath until
the new Parliament is elected. Even
then the word ALLEGIANCE" is expressly
limited to the Irish Free State and the
legislator is asked only to swear that
he will be faithful" TO King George
V, a word indicating not obedience, but
fidelity as between equals.
With ratification of the settlement,
the entire civil service of new Ireland
all that is meant by Dublin Castle
the judiciary, the police, the customs
otficiais, the postoifice-comes under
the control of the Dali Eireann. Any
missed or may resign, but in either
event they must be compensated by
the irish Free State. There is one
significant exception, the auxiliary con
stables, or "black-and-t enrolled
during, the last two years, will receive
their compensation from Great Britain,
not Ireland.
New. Ireland will in future have her
own national debt. Under arbitration
she will assume her share Of the pres
mt impcria obligations, including, as
iiley dc, the United States loans to
treat Britain. In estimating Ireland g
debt account must be taken OF her
overtaxation in the nineteenth century
and, one assumes, of the capital lent
her by Britain for land purchase
Once the amount of the debt is fixed. it
VIII be lrelands affair. She NAV repay
itss and when she likes, and If she bor-
rows further it will be on her own
credit, unsupported by London.
VIII Be No Tariff War
Over taxation, whether on incomes,
excise or customs, the Irish Free State
has entire control, subject to two reser-
yations. The first is as yet unwritten.
but 1t is generally understood that bv
agreement neither Ireland nor Britain
VIII institute tariffs, the one again II