Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-02-03
LLOYDGEORGE
DENIES SECRET
COLLINS PACT
Premier's Office Discredits
Change Of Agreement At
fecting Ulster.
SITUATION is SERIOUS

! LONDON, Feb. 3.-Official denial was
made today at Premier Lloyd Georges
office Of Sir James Craig's statement in
Dublin yesterday that Lloyd George had
a secret understanding with Michael
Collins, by which large territories IN
Ulster were to be transferred to the Irish
Free State
| This statement was issued by Colonel
! Spender, secretary to Sir James, after the
conference between Craig, who Is the
! Unionist premier Of the Ulster govern
ment, and Collins, who is minister of
/ finance in the Irish provisional govern
ment at Dublin.
| Immediately after his arrival here from
Dublin, Sir James issued a statement
saying:
! THE hitch in the negotiations really
! is serious. Yesterday Collins produced
maps indicating he already had pledged
( himself to bring into the Irish Free
State almost half of Northern Ireland,
! including the Counties Fermanagh, Ty-
rome, Armagh and Down and the cities
of Londonderry. Inniskilling and Newry.'
THINKS COLLINS
HAS WEAKENED.
Continuing his statement. Sir James
added:
at appeared to me In our interview
| Collins had been driven by the Sim Fein
extremists to reverse his former policy
of reconciliation. 1 suggested post
ponement of a week that Collins might
reconcile his difficulties with Premier
Lloyd George, but Collins took the stand
/ the differences between us were so wide
a postponement would serve no purpose
II have striven for a peaceful under
standing, Tut oppose the purchase OF
/ anything at the cost of sacrificing terri
/ tory guaranteed to northern Ireland
Arrangements were made for con-
/ ference between Sir James and the Pre-
mier later In the day, and belief was
expressed the Ulster leader would charge
! Lloyd George with having a secret agree
meut with Collins regarding Ulster terri
| tory.
! Sir James Craig is expected to confer
with Colonial Secretary Winston Churchill
! in London either this afternoon or tomor-
! row. 1t also Is possible another confer
/ ence RAY be arranged with Michael Col
/ Inns IN an effort to break the deadlock
which developed in Dublin on Thursday
DECLARES ISSUE
INVOLVES LITTLE.
! The Ulster leader contends the terri
torial Issue involved means no more than
reaffirming the Ulster frontier with posi-
bly, some new alignments in sections
where the population is strongly Roman
Catholic and thus Sim Fem ia political
sentiment.
Should the conference break down en-
tirely, 1t is probable Collins will appeal
TO the inhabitants of that part of Ulster
bordering the Irish Free State TO Join
South Ireland Of their own free will.
/ The Dublin government contends the bulk
of the population in six Ulster counties ID
sympathetic with the Irish Free State.
The British government is maintaining
a hands off" attitude in the Irish d0mes-
tic dispute, believing aloofness is the best
policy in view of Ireland's new national
/ status. Downing street officials declared
the British government was not concerned
with the disagreement between Collins
and Craig.
THAT must be adjusted between the
north and south Of Ireland" 1t was de-
/ clared.
Advices from Belfast state excitement
Is running high.
Leaders of the Ulster Unionists were
! quoted as saying they would rely upon
Sir James pledge Ulster should not be
partitioned.
/ Sir James offered to lay the whole
proposition before the Ulster cabinet and
/ to consult his colleagues upon any future
steps.