Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-07
IRELAND.

The old proverb that the darkest hour is just
before the dawn seems to have been verified in the
case OF Ireland. For several days the press dispatch
les from the Irish conference have been exceedingly
tspessimistic in tone. and on Monday it was reported
shat the negotiations had practically broken down,
On that day The Herald was able to present to its
readers a brief bulletin, received at the last moment
before going to press. indicating that a sudden and
startling change in the situation had taken place,
and that, contrary to all recent expectations, a basis
t.of settlement had been reached BY the negotiators
lin London, and that it was believed that this would
she accepted, and, in substance carried into effect.
Later dispatches published on Tuesday morning
sand afternoon, confirmed this brief announcement,
$50 that it appears that practically within an hour
tfthe clouds that have surrounded the Irish situation
have been dispelied and the sun has broken through.
!. The situation thus created is one which war
rants a feeling OF profound qualification. No right
thinking person could view the prospect OF con-
'.tinued strife in and over Ireland with anything
,sshort OF horror. And vet until just now there has
nsseemed to be no way OF escape from it.
y The essential fact is that Ireland is to remain
"a permanent part of tile British empire, on terms
which provide for the complete independence OF
the people in all their domcstic affairs. From the
abegtnning it has been clear that separation from the
empire was not within the possibilities. The de-
tails of any plan to be arranged have been matters
of debate, adj ustn1ent and compromise, but it has
always been clear that whatever other arrange
ments might be made, the separation OF Ireland
from the empire would never be brought about with
the consent of the British government or the Brit
ish people. Many wordk have been wasted in the
effort to establish a fact that no separation was
necessary or possible, as Ireland had never been a
part OF the empire. That is a mere playing with
words. However Ireland came into the empire,
she has been a part OF it for some hundreds OF years,
and has been governed on that basis. Not only
have the imperial authorities exercised the func-
tons of government, but the Irish people have for
generations, until very recently, been represented,
not merely in form, but IN actual fact. in the British
parliament, to which they have sent their members,
year after year. and have thus participated, not in
the government of Ireland alone, but in the govern
raent OF the rest OF the United Kingdom in all its
domestic affairs, and in the management OF the gen
eral affairs OF the empire. All OF this is familiar
history which no argument can efface.
For some time the two chief obstacles to a set
~tlensent have been the refusal OF the Sim Fem rep
resentatleest to assent to a declaration Of allegiance
to the British monarch and the refusal OF Ulster to
join with the rest of. Ireland in a single parliament.
The arrangements as announced will be salts
factory to the world if they effect a real settlement.
The plan reached is probably no better and nc
worse than any one OF a dozen which might have
been prepared, and which have actually been sug-
gested. But the fact that a plan has been reached,
with a strong probability OF its acceptance, is one
of the best pieces of news that the. wires have car
RED in a long time.