Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-12-16
Treaty Between Great Britain
and Ireland Is Signed and
Peace Is in Sight.
IRISH FREE STATE CREATED
Full independence Within Empire de
Granted-Ulster Given Its Choice
- QuadrupIe Understanding
on Pacific ls Announced In
Plenary Session Of
the Conference.
By EDWARD w. PICKARD

DEACE and amlty between Great
Britain and Ireland are In sight,
after many a long year of bitter en-
nifty and intermittent fighting. Just
as the outlook seemed darkest, Lloyd
George and the Sim Feln delegates ar
rived at an agreement that solved the
tangled problem and signed treaty
which creates the Irish Free State as
a sister nation Of the British empire
like Canada. Australia, New Zealand
and South Africa. Its constitution Is
to be based on that Of Canada, and
the representative Of the crown In Ire
land Is to be chosen In the same way
as the Canadian viceroy.
BY clever juggling Of words and
phrases the peace delegates evolved
an oath Of allegiance that the Irish
we're willing to accept. 1t must be
taken by every member Of the Irish
parliament and Is as follows:
"I do solemnly swear true faith and
allegiance to the constitution OF the
Irish Free State as by law established
and that l will be faithful to his maj
esty King George V, and his heirs
and successors by law, in virtue of the
common citizenship Of Ireland with
Great Britain and her adherence to
and membership Of the group OF ma
lions forming the British common
wealth of nations"
Ireland Is to have her own army and
coast defenses and to control her own
finances. She admits liability for a
share Of the British debt, and Britain
retains the right to control certain
ports.
As for Ulster, while speedily In
formed Of the treaty she is not even
asked to consent to II. The northern
counties are to be included In the
Irish Free State, with local autonomy,
but have a month to decide whether
they prefer their present status, and
during that time "the powers OF the
parliament and government Of the
Irish Free State shall not be exercis-
able as respects northern Ireland" II
Ulster elects to retain her present
status, her boundary lines are to be
fixed by commission OF three.
At this writing Ulster has not acted
formally concerning the treaty, but 1t
Is predicted 1t will approve 1t. All
Great Britain, except very few OF
the most rabid Unionlsts, are enthusi-
astlcally for the pact and the southern
Irish themselves seem fairly well sat
isfed and decidedly relieved. They
should be happy, for they gain practl-
cally everything they have asked ex-
cent actual separation from the Brit
ish empire. The treaty Is yet to be &C.
cepted formally by the Irish parlla-
ment and the Dali Elreann and by the
British parliament, which has been
summoned to special session. "Presl-
dent" de Valera declares himself
against the agreement. but the real
rulers Of Sim Fein are Arthur Griffith
and Michael Collins both Of whom
signed the pact gladly. Mr.. Griffith
said:
"These proposals give Ireland the
control of her own destinles and place
our future in our own hands. They
enable us to stand on our own feet
and to develop our own civilization
and national dlstinctiveness. They
constitute regiment of Irish llber-
ty after a struggle Of centuries"