Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-01-23
First Step Taken
Towards Irish Unity
Michael Collins and Sir James
Craig Reach Agreement
Concerning Boycott and
Boundary.

Dublin, jan 22-(By the A P.)--The
agreement between Michael Collins and
Sir James Craig, the Ulster premier, con-
cerning the boycott and the boundary be-
tween north and south Ireland, although It
had not been expected at this stage of the
situation, has been welcomed in Dublin as
the first step toward Irish unity
Beth sides are regarded as having had
the strongest reasons for desiring the
agreement. The Belfast boycott was par
alyZing 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 OF northeast Ulster was
embarrassing the Belfast government,
which was faced with resistance in
tense as that ocered to the British govern
ment by the rest of Ireland.
| On the other hand many thousands of
northern nationalist are living in acute
| distress and unable to get back to their
empl cyment They had felt that in Lon
| don treaty they had been forgotten and
4 their delegates at a recent executive meet
| ing of the Sim Fein expressed their dis
appointment and asked for gufdance re-
garding their future policy toward the VI
i ster government. Their delegates then
discussed the matter privately with both
|
sidered probable that their represent atoms
| Influenced the new Irish government to
make a speedy settlement with the north
| ern authorities
! Moreover it had become incre singly ey-
fdent tiat there were acute prob, ems out
side the boundary between the norm and
the south which require in the operation
by both the governments. The threatened
railway strike which has been postponed
for a month, was to affect the northern a.;
well as the southern line. Also there had
urisln many points on general administra
lion uron which doubt had been expressed
rs to who was the pro- er authority to act
The railway services were reserved under
the act of 1920 from both the north an<
tn esouth and were to be discharged by tn,
imperial government.
Ihe peace treaty abolished all thest
reservations as regards the south. ard i
has been argued that all the British POW
ers then reserved are now Irfsn powers
and that as regards these services the new
Free State goyernmemt viii! be suprem
even in the north. A friendly arrange
inent between the north and the south wa
considered imperative.
: Nevertheless the agreement is expecte
to meet with criticism from the extremists
Both sides have given away somethn
e whach they had vowed they would insis
e on.
D Sir James Craig has admitted the ne
, oessity Of the boundar yccmmission, an
Mr.. Collins has so far recognized tn
o partition act as to contemplate an arrange
y ment with northeast Ulster which is cor
TEN. Lated neither in the act of 1929 nc
o in the treaty.
Q 1t IS noteworthy that in the new pla
r for the boundary commission there is e,
e idence of eq1al c1strust Of British inter
s ference. Under the treaty the comrni:
sion was to consist of one man from tt
a r1rth ana one from the south and chail
S man appointed by the British. The Brf
: ish chairman is now eliminated
n Criticism is expected from the follow
s ers of Eamonn De Valera, but all frienc
d OF the London treaty will it is considere
S accept the Craig-CoIfrs agreement a d.
siraole result of the treaty Busines
men and the public welcome the pr mi!
Of joint action between the two govern
: inents to settle the railway dispute. tt
question Of prisoners taken after the tru,
d is particularly troublesome in the mort
q Acts in the south which the British g,l
r ernment passed over were prosecuted
the north by the Belfast government ac
ing under its now powers. The amnes
a proclaimed yt4le king has not yet eros
+ ed the northeast boundary as regards sue
a ocenses. The new agreement. it is believe
offers hope Of adjusting this cause of bi
- terness.