The New York herald., 1921-12-07
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1921.
Settlement of the Irish Question

Settlement or the lflSh question
On June 22, when the controversy
was most bitter over the Irish ques-
ton, King GEORGE made remark
able speech at the opening Of the
Northern Parliament in Belfast. He
was speaking not merely to the
lIlstermen within the sound of his
oice but to all Ireland when
ne said:
'T appeal to all Irishmen to pause,
TO stretch out the hand OF forbear-
snce and conciiaton, to forgive and
to forget. and to Join in making for
the land which they love new era
OF peace, contentment and good will"
And when the King said that it
was his earnest desire that in South
ern Ireland, too, there may ere long
take place a parallel to what is now
passing in this hail." there was left
no doubt of the Crowns belief that
he situation, desperate as it then ap.
peared, was not beyond hope.
We may we'll accept the Kings
speech as the very beginning OF the
chapter which has closed so happily.
He had struck a note higher, clearer
and more human than any OF his
Prime Minister'S utterances, for he
was speaking not as the leader of
temporary Government but as the
read OF vast empire. Irishmen re-
membered that speech months after
ward when hope of settlement
seemed TO be drowning in sea of
slechnicalities. They remembered It
gain on Monday night when, as the
last glimmer of peace seemed to fade,
be King again summoned Mr.. LLOYD
GEORGE for a conference which was
soon followed by an agreement be-
ween the Government and the Sim
Eein representatives.
SO, assuming that this is the end
of seven centuries of her bitterness,
ireland has much to thank King
GEORGE for. He saw, with an. i'm
perial vision reminiscent of his
gather, the chance that had come. the
chance that was slipping, the chance
hat might never come again or come
only after more and futile years of
rebellion and bloodshed and he
reached out and took 1t. This, as he
saw it, was the great opportunity
not merely for England or for either
end of Ireland but for all of the
British Empire and all of the world.
As for LLOYD GEORGE, none will
minimize the task he undertook, the
stubbornness with which he perse.
cuted il or the wonderful patience
he displayed at trying moments.
There were times, such as his speech
at Carnarvon, when he seemed al
most willing to throw the whole
problem back into chaos: but there
we're other times when his temperate
treatment of exasperating situations
saved what ground had been gained
His exchange of notes with Mr.. DE-
VALERA in August and September is
one of the most remarkable exhibits
Of dialectic fencing in diplomatic
history. Had the Premier been less
patient the whole structure Of peace
negotiation would have fallen.
Mr.. DE VALERA and his associates
most of them more Irish in blood and
characteristics than himself, must be
congratulated upon obtaining for
ireland the status Of free state
There could be, at least in this gen
Grafton. no Irish republic. De VA
iERA knew that. He tacitly admitted
IL when, at the close of his long and
dexterous correspondence with LLoY1
GEORGE. he accepted the Prime Min
ssters invitation to a conference
with view to ascertaining how
The association of Ireland with the
community OF nations known as the
british Empire may best he recon
ciled with Irish national aspira
lions"
GEORGES, ingenlously designed &c
smooth over the delicate situation
And that phrase very well describes
the outcome of the negotiations. Ire
lands national aspirations are recog
nized. She is not a republic, but she II
free state with powers practically
like those Of the existing Dominions
She is winning more than O'CoNNELI
or GRATTkN dreamed OF achieving foi
her. She is 10 have liberty fsi
greater than PARNErL or REDMoNJ
ever hoped for. She does not become
separate Power, but she attains tho
dignity Of association with the Brit
ish Empire.
AS the agreement stands there Is 8
united ireland. II lies with Ulste