Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-03-31
IS
SIGNED FOR
irish FREEDOM
Terms of Agreement as
Finally Signed Are Of
fcially Announced
REGARDED IMPORTANT
IMPERIAL Government Also Becomes
Party to Argument-Terms Are An
nounced to the Commons

London, March 31.-The terms CT
the Irish agreement as announced in
the House OF Commons last night by
Winston Spencer Churchill, the i'm
perial secretary for the colonies, are
as follows:
! First-Peace is today declared.
! Se:ond-From today the two gov
ernments undertake to cooperate in
every way in their power with view
to the restoration of peaceful condi-
tions in the unsettled areas.
Third-The police in Belfast are to
re organized in general in accordanc"
with the following conditions:
! /. Special police in mixed districts
to be composed half of Catholics and
hall of Protes. lnts. All specials not
required TO! these forces to be with
drawn to their homes and surrender
! their arms.
2. An advisory committee composed
Of Catholics will assist in the selec-
ton of Catholic recruits for the spe-
cial police.
! 3. All police on duty, except the
usual secret service men, to be uni
/ formed and officially numbered.
4. All arms and ammunition issued
to the police to be deposited in bar
racks in charge of a military or other
compliant officer when policemen are
not Oh duty, and an official record
must be kept of all arms issued and
ammunition used
3. Any search for arms is to be
carried out by police force composed
half of Catholics and half Of Protest
ants, the military rendering any nee.
essary assistance.
! Fourth-A court is to be consti-
tpted for the trial without jnry, of
persons charged with serious crimes.
the court to consist Of the lord chief
justice and one of the lords justices of
appeal in Northern Ireland. Any per-
son committed for trial for a serious
crime is to be tried by that court; (a)
| if he so requests, or, (b) if the attor-
ney genral for Northern Ireland so di-
(rccts. Serious crimes are those pun
ishable by death, penal service or i'm
prisonment exceeding six months. The
Government of Northern Ireland will
take steps to pass necessary legis!a-
ton to give effect to this article.
Fifth-A committee is to be estab-
lshed in Belfast, with equal numbers
of Catholics and Protestants, and with
an independent chairman, preferably
Catholic or Protestant alternately
! in successive weeks, to near and in
vestigate complaints of intimidation.
outragcs, etc, such committee having
direct access to the heads of the Gov
ernment The local press is to he ap-
preached with view to inserting only
such reports of disturbances, etc, as
shall have been considered and COM
imunicatcd bv this committee.
| Sixth-Trish Republican army ac-
tivitics are to cease in the 6 counties
and thercupon method of organizing
special police in the six counties out
side Belfast shall proceed as speedily
as possible on lines similar to those
agreed to in Belfast.
Seventh-During the month immr-
diately following the passing into law
| Of bill confirming the Constitution Of
| 'hc Free State. being the month with
in which the Northern Parliament IS
to exercise its option. and before anv
address in accordance with Article
| XII of the treaty is presented, there
shall be further melting between the
signatories of the agrecmnt with a
view to ascertaining (a) whether
means can he devised to secure unity
in Ireland, or, (b) failing this, wheth
or an agreement can be arrived at oA
the obundary question otherwise than
| hy recourse in the boundary commits
sion under the treaty.
Eighth-Thc return to their homes
}of persons expelled is to be secured kv
the respective governments, and the
! service of the committee mentioned in
Article 5 is to be sought in cases Of
difficulty.
| Ninth-In view of the special conli-
tions consequent on the political stu
alton in Belfast and ncighborhood
the British Government will submit!
to Parliament a vote, not exceeding
$500. 900 for the Ministry of Labor
in Northern Ireland, to he expended
exclusively in relief work, one-third
for the benefit of Catholics and two
thirds for Protestants. The Northern
signatories agree to use every effort
to secure the restoration of the ex-
pellcd workmcn, and wherever this
proves impracticahlc. owing to trade
depression. they will be afforded en-
plovmcnt or relief work.
Tenth-The two governments can.
in cases agreed upon between the sig
natories. arrange for the release Of
nolitical prisoners in rrison fnr of.
! fenses committed before the date
hereof. No offenseS committed after
March FL shall be open to considera-
tion.