New Britain herald., 1922-02-03
Craig, Ulster Leader
 Tells of Conference
UIsterites Not Informed as to British.Irish Agree ment; Will Go Before British Cabinet.

London, Feb, S-(By Associated Press Premier Craig of Ulster de- clared in a statement today that ne had been told yesterday by Michael Collins, head of the southern Ireland provisional government that Coll'ns had made promise Of bringing mo the Irish free state almost ha'f or north Ireland, including Fermanagh, Tyrone. large parts of Armagh ana Down. and Londonderry city, En- niskillen and Newry.
 Sir James said he had suggested to Mir. Collins a weeks adjournment for consideration of the situation re- garding the boundaries between ul- ster and south Ireland. but that Col lins had replied the differences sep drating them were so wide that post ponement would be useless,
 Confers With Churchill.
 The Ulster premier's statement was made to the press after he had con- ferred with Winston Churchill. the colonial secretary, at the colonial of- flee. Sir James emphasized the grav- ity which he attached to the hitch in the negotiations with the provisional government.
 "I went to Dublin yesterday" he said to discuss with Michael Collins certain outstanding questions, hoping to promote peace in Ireland. It was only when l started from Belfast, however. and read the morning pa pers that I suspected any change Of attitude on the part of Collins.
 Boundary Commission.
 T noticed that he had received deputations of Sim Feiners from diff ferent parts of Ulster the previous day demanding that their areas should be taken into the free. state. Collins replied to the deputations that they were only trying to force open the doors and using unnecessary energy in doing so. Arthur Griffith. who also was present, said he and his fellow delegates had urged the claim of those districts for weeks during the negotiations in London, and the result was that the free state should extend over Ireland. that Ulster should have the option of
 
 but that if she did so boundary commission would be set up to decide if such districts should come into 'the free state. That, said Griffith, was the position today also.
 "l decided" continued the Ulster premier. ito have the matter cleared up immediately so as to obviate even d shadow of further misunderstood ing, and l have to admit that in the conversations with Mir. Collins yester- day the difficulties regarding the ul- ster boundaries have been revived in intensified form.
 Ulster Not Consulted
 When the treaty was entered into between the British government and representatives of southern Ireland, we in Ulster were not consulted. We faced the possibility of a loss of ter rltory without our consent-territory solemnly assured to us as an estab- lished government by his majesty the king and the parliament of Great Britain. l endeavored to find solu- tion of the difficulty earnestly trying to bring about an honorable peace in an honorable way"
 The Ulster premier said the British ministers had assured him privately that Premier Lloyd George had stat ed in the house of commons that the boundary commission proviso meant a mere readiustment of the boundary.
 T am offering to lay my views be- fore the whole British cabinet" add ed Sir James and will consult my colleagues in our local parliament and in the imperial parliament regarding the steps to be taken in consequence of the serious situation-one which is not of my making, but which l car ncstly tried to avoid"