The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-12-16
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Treaty Between Great Britain
and Ireland Is Signed and
Peace Is In Sight.
IRISH FREE STATE CREATED
Full Independence Within Empire ls
Granted-Uister Given Its Choice
Quadruple understanding
on Pacific Is Announced In
Pienary Session OF
the Conference.
BY EDWARD w. PIckARD

nEACE and amity between Great
1 Britain and Ireland are in sight,
after many a long year Of bitter en-
nifty 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
a sister nation of the British empire
Nike Canada, Australia, New Zealand
and South Africa. Its constitution Is
ITO be based on that of Canada. and
the representative of the crown in Ire
kSena is to be chosen in the same way
las 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 be
taken by every member of the Irish
parliament and is as follows:
81 do solemnly swear true faith and
allegiance to the constitution of the
Irish Free State as by law established
md that | will be faithful to his maj
esty,- King George V, and his heirs
and successors by law, in virtue of the
common citizenship of Ireland with
Great Fritain and her adherence to
and membership of the group of ma
lions 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 If
Ulster elects to yetain her present
status, her boundary lines are to be
tlXeQ Dy cOl1lnlsSlou VI tniee.
At this writing ulster has not acted
formally concerning the treaty, but it
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 well sat
listed and decidedly relieved. They
should be happy, for they gain practi-
cally everything they have asked ex-
.opt actual separation from the Brit
ish empire. The treaty is yet to be ac-
cepted formally by the Irish parla-
ment and the Dali Eireann and by the
British parliament, which has been
summoned to special session. "Presi-
dent o.de Valera declares himself
against the agreement, but the real
rulers of Sim Fem are Arthur Griffith
and Michael Collins. both of whom
!. six2ed the ract gladly. Mr.. Griffith
, "These proposals give Ireland the
control of her own destinies and place
our future In our own hands. They
e,able us TO stand on our own feet
and to deyeiop our ow. civilization
and national distinct-seness. They
constitute a regiment of Irish liber-
~ after a struggle of centuries"