New-York tribune., 1922-03-28
Law i'm
Belfast HintetI
By Churchill
Situation in Northern City
Worse Than Anywhere
Else in Ireland. He Saws
i'll Speech i'm Commons
Craig Agrees to Parlev
Border Truce May Be Sug-
gested at Council Held
i'll London Tomorrow

LONDON. March 81 (By The Asso-
cIated Press).-The possibility of cs-
tablishing martial law in a part Of
Belfast was foreshadowed By Winston
Spencer Churchill. Secretary for the
Colonies, in the House Of Commons
tonight. lie declared the situation in
Belfast was far worse than all the
rest of Ireland and that the govern
ment was prepared to consider martial
low with the military authorities. But
he added, action could only be taken in
agreement with the Ulster government,
of whose strong effort to compose
matters in the city he was aware.
Churchill believed the Catholics Of
the City Of Belfast would favor martial
law, so that control might be placed
in the hands OF impartial imperial
! troops. He suggested the question
ought TO be discussed at the coming
conference Of Irish minister's The pro
posal to draw a Gordon Of imperial
troops along the frontier also should
be discussed. The plan. he thought
would be feasible about the middle OF
| April, when the troops could 20 undcr
canvas.
Such measures, however. in the opir-
ion of the Colonial Secretary. are only
palliative, and the proper way to tran
qulllze the position was by a friendly
agreement between the north and south
Britain to Keep Hands OF
The conference OF Irish ministers
he said, would manage its Own pro-
cedure. 'rhc British government had
not decided to Interfere, and if the
Irish prescntatives pre- ferred to dis
cuss matters solely between thems elves
the British ministers would withdraw.
From The Tri6u"e's Europcon Bureau
Copyright. 1922. New York Tribune Inc)
LONDON, March PA round table
conference to checl; the Ulster disor-
ders will take place here on Wednes-
day. Premier Craig's acceptance Of
the British governments invitation to
London was received here tonight.
! The Ulster Premier will bring some Of
his colleagues. while the Free State
representatives will be Michael Col
Inns. Arthur Griffith and Eamon Dug
gan. Possibly Kelvin O'Higoins will be
added TO Che Free State delegation.
He departed for London last night and
will be available for preliminary
conference with Winston Churchill,
Colonial Secretary, before the arrival
Of the Ulsterites.
The prospects for happy outcome
Of the conference cannot be described
as particularly bright in view Of the
statement given out by Collins before
leaving Dublin. ~ see no way out OF
the impasse in northern Ireland" he
said, until Premier Craig radically
alters his present iniWical attitude to-
ward the government Of Ireland and
the helpless minority at Belfast"
Craig Accused Of Bad Faith
The provisional government always
has been ready TO do anything in its
power to reach peaceful settlement,
| Collins declared. but he insisted that
! Premier Craig had not kept his under
| takines nor done ANYTHING to meet the
Free Staters. Pointing out that Craig
had failed to keep the January pact
whereby the expelled Catholic workers
would be reinstated IN view Of the re
moval OF the bovcott-Collins asserted
Continued OF next psgtl