The New York herald., 1922-01-23
ULSTER AGREEMENT
FIRST step TO UNITY
Collins and Craig Settle
Problems of Boycott and
Boundary.
REJOICING IN DUBLIN
Belfast Embargo Cause OF
Trade Embarrassment
and Real Distress.
WILL END RAIL DISPUTE
Promise Of Joint Action Is
Welcomed by Public and
Business Men.
WILL END RAIL DISPUTE

DUBLIN. Jan. % ASSOCIATED Press).
The agreement between Michael
Collins and Sir James Craig. the Ulster
Premier. concerning the boycott and
the boundary between North and
South Ireland, although il had not
been expected at this stage OF the
situation. has been welcomed In Dub
fin as the first step toward IRISH unity.
Both sides are regarded as having
had the strongest reasons for desiring
the agreement. The Belfast boycott
was paralyzing all the distributing
agencies in Belfast and the Belfast
banks. which do large business in
South and West ireland. had been
hard hit by refusals TO accept their
checks or notes. The task OF govern
ing the minority on northeast Ulster
was embarrassing the Belfast Govern
ment. which was faced with resistance
as intense as that offered to the Brit
ish Government by the rest of Ire
land
On the other hand. manv thousands OF
northern Nationalists are living In acute
distress and unable to get back to their
mrloyment. They had felt that in the
London treaty they had been FORGOTTEN.
and their delegates at recent exec tive
meeting of the Sim Fein expressed their
disappointment and asked for gui 1ance
regarding their future policy toward the
Ulster Goverpment. Their Delegates
then discussed the matter privately with
both Mr.. de Valera and Mr.. Griffith. II
is considered probable that their repre-
sentations Influenced the new Irish Cow
ernment to make speedy settlement
with the northern authorities.
Many Acute Problems.
Moreover, II had become increasingly
evident that there were acute problems
outside the boundary between the North
and the South which required coopera-
tion by both the governm nts The
threatened railway strike, which has
been POSTPONED for a month, was 20
affect the northern as well as the SOUTH
ern lines. Aiso there had arisen many
points on general administration upJn
which doubt had been EXPRESSED n to
who was he proper authority 10 act.
The railway services were rese we'd
under the act OF 1920 from both the
North and the South and were o be
discharged by ths imperial Govcrnn ent.
The peace treaty abolished all these
reservations as regards the South. and "
has been argued that all the British
powers then reserved are now Irish pow
ers. and that as regards these services
the new free State Government will be
supreme. even in the North. A friendly
arrangement between the North and
Nevertheless. the agreement Is ex-
pected TO meet with criticism from the
Extremists. Both sides have given away
something which they had vowed they
would insist on.
Sir James Craig has admitted the
necessity of the boundary commission.
and Mr. Collins has so far recognized the
partition act as to contemplate an ar
rangement with Northwest Ulster, which
is contemplated neither in act Of 1920
nor in the treaty.
Mistrust of Britain shown.
II is noteworthy that in the rew plan
FOR the boundary commission there is
evidence Of equal distrust Of British In
reference. Under the treaty. the COM
mission was to consist Of one man from
the North and one from the South, and
a chairman appointed by the British.
The British chairman is now eliminated.
Criticism Is expected from the follow.
ers OF Eamon de Valera, but all friends
of the London treaty will. It Is consid-
cred, accept the Craig-Collins agreement
as desirable result of the treaty. Busi-
ness men and the public welcome the
promise Of joint action between the two
governments TO settle the railway dis
pute.
The question OF prisoners taken after
the truce Is particularly troublesome in
the North Acts in the South, which tbe
British Government passed over. ws 0
prosecuted In the North by the BeifaTt
Government acting under its new DOW
crs The amnesty proclaimed by the
King has not yet crossed the northeast
boundary Is regards such offcnses. Tho
new agreement. it is believed. offers hopS
OF adjusting this cause Of bitterness,