South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-15

this meeting between the British
government and the Irish leaders 10
solve these feuds in a new under
standing. honorable and satisfac-
tory TO all the people involved.
The free nations which compose
the British Empire are drawn from
many races with different histories,
traditions and ideals. In the Domin-
ion OF Canada the British and
French have long forgotten the bit
ter conflicts which divided their an
cestors. In South Africa. the Trans
vaal republic and the Orange Free
State nave Joined with two British
colonies to make a great. self-gov-
erning union, under His Majesty's
sway.
The British people cannot be-
ieve that where Canada and South
Africa. with equal or even greatE
difficulties, have so signally succeed
ed Ireland will fail, and they are de-
termined that so far as they them
selves can assure it nothing shall
hinder Irish statesmen from joining
together to build up an Irish state
in free and willing cooperation with
the other peoples Of the empire.
Favor Dominion Plan.
Moved by these considerations,
the British government invites Ire
land to take her place in the great
| association OF free nations over
which His Majesty reigns. As an
earnest demonstration of their desire
I IN - al l.,
able Irelond to face the future with
her own strength cad hope, they pro-
pose that Ireland shall assume forth
with the status OF a dominion, with
all the powers and privileges set
forth in this document
BY the adoption Of dominion sta
tus il is understood that Ireland
shall enjoy complete autonomy in
taxation and finance; that she shall
maintoin her own military forces for
! home defense, her own constabulary
and her own police; that she shall
take over the Irish postal services
and all matters relating thereto;
education, Lane, agriculture, mines
and minerals, forestry, housing, lab
or unemployment, transport, trade,
public health, health insurance and
liquor traffic, and in sum, that she
shall exercise all those powers and
privileges upon which the autonomy
of governing dominions is based
subject to the considerations set
forth in the ensuing paragraph.
Nations standing.
Guaranteed In these liberties,
which no foreign people can chat
lenge without challenging the en-
pire as a whole the iominions hold
each and severally by virtue of their
British fellowship. a standing am
ongst the nations equivalent not
merely TO their individual strength,
but TO the combined power and in
fucnce of all the nations Of the
commonwealth. That guarantee.
that fellowship. that freedom, the
whole empire looks to Ireland to
accept"
Then follow six stipuladons. The
first says that the common concern
Of both countries in the defense OF
their interests on land and sea shall
be recognized.
Great Britain" it adds, Lives by
the sea: her food and her communi-
cations depend on the freedom OF
the great sea routes. Ireland lies at
Br.tain's side, across the sea ways,
north and south. that link her with
the sister nations of the empire, the
markets OF the world and the vital
sources of her food supply In re-
cognitiop Of this fact, which nature
has imposed and which no states
mauship can change, it is essential
that the royal navy alone should
control the seas around Ireland and
Great Britain and that Such rights
and liberties should be accorded It
by the Irish state as are essential for
naval purposes on Irish harbors and
on Irish coasts"