Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-15

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has the Sin Fein in this treaty been
given an army. if nc. to invade u
ster" Was it to invade America. OF
the channel islands,
The tone of his whole speech was
one Of unrelenting hostility to a
settlement. "a
Premier Lloyd Georges speech. in
the commons was less of oratr,icaI
display in defense of the treaty. which
had been expected. than a careful cx-
position nf tha agreement and its inn
DlicatiCns. with a view to putting the
house in possession Of the conirlete
mind Of the government on the settle
lnent. Hc forestalled attacks by tn.
argument that the treaty had received
unstinted praise from the king AMI
the British don1inicns, and could not
be regarded as inimical TO the coun-
try's interests.
listers official reply has also been
delayed until tomorrow, but it is
known hat it rejects the invitation
to enter the Irish Free State.
Prcm.cr's Speech.
Contrasted str:ktngly with Great
Britain's royal pc1np and splendor,
displayed in the house OF lords at
noon today, was the scene in the
house of commons later when. with
out ceremony. but with evident con-
sciousness~o powers and influence.
the members heard Premier LLOYD
George render an account Of his stew
ardship and the governments part in
the Irish settlement.
For an hour and three-Quarters.
MIR. Lloyd George spoke to crowded
benches Inc damned galleries. 1t was
not an GRAFTON like that OF October 81,
when the premier. having been chal-
Nlenged, presented to the country tle
alternatives of war Or negotiation with
Ireland. and won the day 10y a division
overwhelmingly tavoring the govern
ment's policy; his role today was one
simply narrating the problems faced
by the delegations. with a description
o fthe way they were handled.
Early in his address he silenced
those Inclined to interrupt him. Whep
an Ulster member in~terrogated him
on allegiance Mr.. Lloyd George
having said that the status Of IrelanG
was that Of a free state. with allegi-
ance to the king, he turned and faced
the Ulsterite, and declared emphatic
ally:
Allegiance TO King.
Yes. allegiance to the king, and
swearing allegiance to the king" He
then asked the members to refrain
from interruptions as his task of OK
/ position was difficult and one which
lie .ffsliked.
The premier was deeply impressiv'
as he came near the end, whenin sloy
tones, and solemn manner. he drew {
picture, of the British imperial wal
cabinet. At which u vacant chair wa
waiting for ireland. and looked I,
the future when EngIal1d's fear;
would be Ireiand's anSieties. nj Eng
lands victory lreiaEd's joy.
Mr.. Lloyd George admitted that TIL
/ British Representatives gave only a re
Iuctant assent to fiscal freedom TO
Ireland.
No amendments &
The premier said the introduction o
amendments to the treaty would un
doubtedly wreck the agreement an
into ths agreement was seriousl.
challenged It would be a waste Of TIN,
for the house to enter into q defens
of it.
There wereSmanyspeculiar Irish DIFF
icultjes. he said. Ireland's %geograph
zeal strategic position was analogou
ITO thatEof no other dominion. Ever,
othrr dominion had its war debt an,
pensions. he added. and If that hal
not been dealt with the IRISH aloli
would have come out OF the warHup
taxed. He said there was also the diff
ticnlty arising from deeply rooted re
iigfous an%irnosittes, so exaggerate