The New York herald., 1921-12-16
Fermanagh County Councils
Building, Books and Papers
Seized by Police.
CRAIG GOES TO LONDON
Tells Lloyd George in Letter
of North's Resentment Of
Boundary Plan.

BELFAST. Dec. Is (Associated Press).
When a majority of the County
Council of Fermanagh, an Ulster
county, decided to-day to recognize
the authority of the Dali Eireann, the
police seized the council building and
all it's books and documents.
tFermanagh has been mentioned as
one of the counties that would be
taken from Ulster by boundary COM
mission.l
Following the making public OF the
Ulster Cabinets definite rejection Of
the Imperial Governments invitation
to enter the Irish Free State. Premier
Craig left Belfast for London. The
official reason given was that grave
situation was created by Mr.. Lloyd
Georges references to Irish boun-
daries in his latest speech to the
House of Commons.
Sir James in a letter to Mr.. Lloyd
George says that in a statement which
Mr. Lloyd George gave to him on Mo-
vember 25 the Premier had promised
that listers rights would in no way
be sacrificed nor compromised until
new proposals had been placed be-
fore the Cabinet of northern Ireland.
Therefore the letter continued, 'it
was with grave concern that we noticed
that an agreement which materially in
voIved listers interests had been signed
+. h.atIt
our being consulted. A question vitality
affecting our interests Is the decision to
establish a commission to review the
boundaries between northern and SOUTH
ern Ireland.
There IL, j believe, no precedent In
the history of the British Empire for
taking any territory from an established
Government without its sanction. More
over. this is a breach of the Govern
ment of Ireland Act of 1920, which was
put in operation only last June.
"At our meeting December you COM
planned that 1t was only contended to
make slight readJustment in our
boundary line, SO as to bring into north
ern ireland loyalists who now are just
outside our area and transfer cor
respondingly equivalent number Of those
having Sim Fein syInpathies TO the
area of the Irish Free state
Sir James says he reserved to the
Ulster Government the right OF dissent
ing from the appointment of the boun-
dary commission and he protests against
"the declared intention of your Govern
ment to place northern Ireland auto
matically in the Irish Free State"
Not only is this opposed to your
pledge" the letter continued. but 1t
also Is antagonistic to the general prin-
IT. .4AI
gard TO tho liberties of her peoples"
The Ulster Premier said II Is true
that Ulster gets the right to contract
out OF the agreement. but only after her
automatic inclusion I'm the irish Free
state.
THE action of the British Cabinet
In this matter" the letter went on to
say. ''is q complete reversal OF their
policy as declared In the Kings speech
at tho opening Of the Northern Parlia-
ment. and also In the published corre-
spondence between you and Mr.. De
Valera This policy was that Ulster
should remain out until she chose Of her
own, free will to enter an all Ireland
Parliament"
Sir James asserted that the govern
ment Of ireland act gave equal rights 10
the north and south OF Ireland. but he
said "the principle is completely violated
by the agreement made with Sim Fem
whereby the free State Is relieved OF
many OF her responsibilities with regard
to the British Empire and Is to he
granted financial advantages which you
made It clear are expected to relieve her
considerably from the burden Of taxa
ton which must he borne by US"
Regarding the question OF allegiance
| the letter said the concession TO Sim
| Fein of a different oath than the other
| dominions take would seem 10 make n
impossible for Ulster ever 10 enter tho
| FREQ state"
"rn spite OF tho inducements held on,
10 Ulster under your arrangement with
Sim Fein," wrote Sir James. I'VE arc
convinced that " Is not in the interests
of Great Britain, or the empire that
Ulster should become subordinate 10 the
Sim Fcin government. We feel that In
the years TO come the empire will realize
the advantages OF having In northern
Ireland population which Is determined
to remain loyal to British traditions and
citize nship, and we arc glad to think that
-