Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-16

to Irish Boundaries in his speech to the house of common in London yester- day.
 Sir James in a letter to MT. Lloyd George says that in statement MT Ifloyd George gave him November 25 the premier promised Listers rights would be in no way sacrificed nor compro- missed until new proposals had been plac- ed before the cabinet of northern Ire land.
 Therefore" the letter continues, 'ft was with grave concern that we mo- ticed that en agreement which materially | involved U1s-ers interests had been signed by lis Maiesty's government without being consulted. A question vii | tally affecting our interests in the deci- sion to establish a commission to review | the bounda -ies between northern and southern Irelard.
 There 's, ] believe, no precedent in H., history o' the British Empire for | taking any territory from an established government without it's sanction. More over. this ts a breach of the government | of Ireland act of 1920. which was put in | operation only last June.
 "At our meeting December 9 you com plained that Ii was only contended to make slisnt readtustment in our boun- | dary line so as to bring into northern | Ireland lov1lists who are just. outside l our area and transfer a correspondingly | equivalent rumber of those having Sim Fein svrpatiies to the area of the Irish Free State.
 Sir James says he reserved 10 the Ulster government the right of dissent ing from mo appointment of the bonn
 dary commission, and he protests against
 "the declared intention of your govern
 rnent to pla-e northern Ireland automati-
 cally in the Irish Free State"
 "Not only $ this opposed to your
 pledge, the letter continues. "but it is
 also antagonistic to the general principles
 of the British Empire. with rIgard to
 the liberties of her peoples
 The Ulster premier says it Is true
 that Ulster is given the right to con-
 tract out If the agreement. but only
 after her automatic inclusion in the
 Irish Free State.
 "T'he action of the British cabinet f
 this matter the letter goes on to say, 'fs
 a complete reversal of their policy as de-
 clared- in the kings speech a the open
 ing of the r.orthern parliament. and also
 in the published correspondence between
 you and Mir De Valera. This policy was
 that Ulster should remain out until she
 choose of her own free will to enter ar all-Ireland lArlissnent.
 "Neither explanation nor justification . of this astounding change has been at tempted. We can only conjecture it | I a surrender 10 the claims of the Sim Fein that her delegaHs must be .recog = nized as representatives of the whole o ? 1 Ireland, which we cannot for a momen , admit"
 9 What righ.," the letter demands. "ha : the Sim Feln to be recognized as part, , to any agreement concerning the defense l of Belfast tough, which tourches onl t the loyal counties of Antrim and Down |?
 Sir James asserts that the govern y ment of Ireland act gave equal right e 10 the north and south of Ireland bl n says this :'rincipe Is completely violat o ed by the agreement made with the Sin n Fein, whereby the free state is relieve e of many of Ter responsibilities with re d gard to the British Empire and is to h - granted financial advantages which vo l- made 1t clear are expected to- relieve he
 considerably from the burden of taxa d ton which n.ust be borne by us.' e The letter declares that the Brtis if government III abandoning stimulation e that there should be levied no tariffs C
 restrictions nDcn industry and trade an n commerce has opened the way for frictio L. and tarift wars in which the Kingdom It especially Ulster, must be gravely il . volved.
 = Regarding the question of allegian, v the letter saws the concession to the Sin e Fein of different oath than the oth, | dominions 'ake would seem to make " impossible for Ulster ever to enter Il s- free state t add that further adver, v criticism against the treaty might r made regarding the concil of Irelar 70 and the judi ciary, but that this will 1 io withheld for the present.
 'g Tn spite If the inducements held n, 17 to Ulster -nde- your arrangement wi
 the Sinn Feln," says Sir James. " are clnvlnced that it is not in the i, ~ terests Of Great Britain or the empi that Ulster should become suhordir . a to the Sim Feln government"