Evening star., 1922-03-31
IRISH FREE STATE
BILL lBEC0MESLAW,
KING GIVING ASSENT
House of Lords Decides Not
to Insist Upon Amendments
/. It Had Adopted.
NEW PEACE AGREEMENT
HAILED WITH DELIGHT
Terms Signed Yesterday Expected
| to End Present Terrors on
I Ulster Border.
BY tie Associa ted Press.

~ t'c hsSOC!dtcu Iress
LONDON. March 31.-The Irish
free state bill became law today when
King George gave his assent to the
measure. The house of lords decided
not to insist upon amendments 1t had
adopted. and an adjustment was
reached between the two houses Of
parliament.
Churchill Lauds Ulntermen.
The free state party in Ireland is
enormously strengthened by the
agreement for the pacifcation of the
island, signed here last night, the
house of commons was told today by
Winston Spencer Churchill, secretary
dor the colonies.
Paying tribute to what he termed
ihc statesmanlike courage of the Ul-
ster leaders. Mr. Churchill said the
agreement gave hope for cooperation
between the north and south and
opened a prospect for a future such
as Ireland had never before contem-, :,
plated.
hand to the free state and the cause
OF peace in Ireland the value Of
which could not be .overestimated
For. by taking all the measures
bumanly possible to bring cessation
of religious partisan warfare in Bel
fast itself and remove the cause of
friction" he said Ulster has given
the treaty and the provisional gov
ernment a far greater chance of sue
cess than otherwise would have been
possible.
There is no doubt whatever that
the conflicts in the slums of Belfas.
have armed the foes of the Free State
with every sort of argument to rally
1,,4t~ Il l,f fol, ott
world have had nothing to 10 with
1iCir wrcekins- destructive campaign.
Big Help to Free state.
"hs far as the measures now taken
9nay have an effect in tranquilizing
the situation in Belfast, the cause OF
those fighting for the treaty will be
enormously strengthened
additionally there is in this agree
sment hope of cooperation between
the north and the south-a co-opera-
ton only forthcoming on the basis Of
the treaty. cooperation which
would be finally destroyed were a re-
public set up.
This hope of unity and cooperation
peaceful. protectSd future such as
was never held out before. In these
two ways Ulster has rendered SUI
preme service. not only to Ireland,
but to the British empire
Must Not Nourish Delusions.
Mr.. Churchill said it was the gov
ernmen:'s obligation to secure to Ul-
ster her right to defend her soil and
secure all she is entitled to under
legislation and under the treaty" He
ia ha "A al
terations in the treaty which in
fringed it in the slightest degree, as
this would be playing into the hands
of the opponents Of the provisional
government.
I'VE must not nourish delusions," he
continued "The infant Irish Frse
State. while still in it's cradle, Is ex-
posed to deadly foes who will not
hesitate to use any means. however
cruel and treacherous. to destroy it.
We have seen in the last few days at
1empts. in some cases successful. to
heduce from loyalty to the provisional
government its newly formed troops.
We have seen attempts. in one case
surceSsful. to stifie thc free dom of fhe
press and deStro! a great Irish news
1'aper which was defending the treaty
cause.
1T is at this moment that the pow
Sltnt Id OF ulster IN the cause OF
Irish peace is doubIy precious
Entire Empire Sees New Hope.
The cheers with which the house
of commons greeted the announce
,nent by Secretary for Colonies
Churchill gave an indication of the
enthusiasm with which the majority
in England is expected to greet the
news.
Owing to the lateness Of the an
pouncement only two of the morning
newspapers found it possible to make
editorial comment, but the manner in
which the text Of the document was
displayed is indicative of the inn.
portance they attached to it.
In commenting on the grateful
news" the Times says: "The whole
empire will look to Ireland with re-
1ewed confidence to honor the bond
into which it's chosen leaders have
entered"
The Westminster Gazette heartily
Welcomes the agreement and hopes it
is step toward unity of the whole
country, "for no permanent division
into two parts is compatible with
satisfactory life for either
Dublin Fears City-wide Plot.
It is widely believed in Dublin that
the armed raid on the plant Of the
, Freeman's Journal yesterday morn
ing was part of project for the
eeizure Of the whole city, which
failed through lack Of forces, says
the Daily Mall correspondent.
The raid created a sensation. and
there was considerable uneasiness
last night, the people expecting some
fresh coup by the republicans. The
1atter's claim of big secessions from
the Free State section of the Irish
republican army, including half the
forces guarding the Bank Of Ire
land. has been given wide publicity,
and seems to have added to the nery-
BUSINESS throughout the city.
The Daily Mail. in printing the dis
patch, appends a note. to the effect
that the telephone operators in Dub
lin suddenly cut the connection dur
ing the transmission of the message,
which Is complete.
Latest reports agree that, although
three rotary presses and fourteen
linotype machines were ruined in the
faid, preventing the Freeman,s Jour-
nal from issuing a complete news
paper. there was only slight loss
from fire, and nearly all the damage
IS covered by insurance. The Even
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