The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-10-20
Irish Delegates
Aim to Keep TDo
Ulster Counties
Tyrone and Fern,anagh
Cruz of Dispute With
Belfast Leaders.
Special Cable to Tn. wsshinston Herald.

SPECIAL Cable to The Washington Hsraid.)
LONDON, Oct. 19.-The Irish con-
ference will net meet until Friday
as Prime Minister Lloyd George ex'
poets to be occupied all day romor-
row with the unemployment debate
in Parliament
In the meantime the committee
meetings have got down to prac-
teal work and are considering the
British proposals. for the future
government of Ireland in detail, ig-
noring for the time being the cru
cial question of Independence Hor
sovereignty. This is the best guar
antee for an eventual peace, for II
an agreement Is reached on future
relations no one will care about
the present or past.
The real crux is likely to come
over Ulster. The Sim Fein still
insists on the unity of Ireland, while
Ulster Is equally insistent on parti-
ton. The Sim Fein Is prepared, II
unwillingly, to abandon the four
counties of Antrim, Down, Armagh
and Londonderry, which have Prot
estant majorities, but they insist on
keeping Tyrone and Fermanagn'
which are predominantly Catholic,
Two Counties May Rebel.
II Tyrone and Fermanagh remain
in Ulster the people Of these coun-
ties threaten to rebel and Join
South ireland.
No doubt back in the minds of the
Sim Feiners is the certainty tnat
Ulster cannot survive without Ty-
rome and Fermanagh and tnat II
soon will be glad to come into ire
land voluntarily. The Belfast pol
iticians know this Just as wen as
the republicans and they Will make
a bitter hght to retain the two
counties. The story of their inclu-
sion in Ulster shows how vital they
are to the Belfast rulers. Sir Ed
ward Carson was offered the whole
province of Ulster for his parlia-
ment, but he refused on the ground
that there would be a Catholic ma
jority. He was then offered the
four Protestant counties, but he re-
fused them, ostensibly because OF
the loyalty Of the Protestants in
Tyrone and Fermanagh, but really
because Belfast businessmen feared
a Labor and and Socialist majority,
and they relied on the Catholic
farmers of the two counties to give
them a Conservative majority.
Economics Big Factor.
This condition still holds good,
and II Belfast loses the two coun-
| ties il will be forced to fall back
IN the conservative South for pro-
lection.
Thus the play Of economic forces
Is sure to be an important factor in
the settlement Of the Irish disputes.
The conferences now have settled
down to a battle Of wits between
Lloyd George aud winston Churchill
on one side and Arthur Griffith ana
Michael Collins on the other. The
other members of eash delegation
are sitting back as spectators ana
are taking little part In the discus
sions except for comittee meetings
where detailed and expert knowl-
edge is called for.
Collins Popular in London.
Michael Collins has made a great
| impression as a man of real ability,
he being a quick thinker, a good
| debater and having an unfailing
good temper. He also has caught
| the public Imagination in London
and crowds are continually waiting
around the Irish headquarters try
ing to get a glimpse of him or to
photograph him. One enthusiast Of
fered the doorkeeper $500 for an
opportunity to be photographed be-
tween Collins and Sean McKeown.
the blacksmith Of Ballinalack, and
when he was told that McKeown
was in Ireland he offered to pay Nc
Keown's expenses to London.
| Copyright 1917