Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-23

WILL RELIEVE DISTRESS
IBy Associated Press.1


DUBLIN, Jan. 22.-Thc agreement
between Michael Collins and Sir
James Craig. the Ulstcr Premier,
concerning the boycott and the boun-
Diary between North and South Ire
land. although it had not been OK
pected at this stage OF the situation,
has been welcomed in Dublin as the
hrst step toward Irish unity
Both sides are regarded MS having
had THE strongest reasons for desir-
ing the agreement. The Belfast boy
colt was paralyzing all the dIstrib-
uting agencies In Belfast, and the
Belfast banks, which do q large busi-
ness In South and West ireland, had
been hard hit by rcrusals to accept
thcir checks or notes. The task or
governing the minority on Northeast
Ulster was cmbn raSsinE the Belfast
government. which was faced with
resistance as intense as TINT offered
To the British government by the rest
of Ireland.
Living In Distress.
On tho other hand many thousands
OF Northern Natlonalis,s are living
in acute distress and unable TO get
back to their employment. They
had felt that In the London treaty
they had been forgotten. and their
delegates at Il recent executive. meet
nE of the Sim Fcin expressed their
disappointment. and asked for gull
dance regarding their future policy
toward the Ulster government Their
delegates then discussed jhc matter
privately with both Mr.. de Valera
md MIR. Griffith 1t IL considccd
iobabic that their representations in
!ucnccd the new Irish government to
rak" speedy settlement with the
Northern authorities
Moreover. II had become increas-
hrly evident that there were acute
'robicms outside the boundary be-
w"cn the North and south, which re-
'uircd cooperation by both the gov
rnmcnts. The threatened railway
trikc. which has been postponed for
"A month. would affect the Northern
IS well as the Southern lines. Also.
! here had arisen many points on gem
| raj administration upon which doubt
rad been expressed ms TO who was the
proper authority to act. Tho rail-
way services were reserved under the
| act Of 1920 from both the North and
lie South and were 10 be discharged
by the imperial government.
Abolish Reservations.
The peace trcnty abolished all
these reservations MS regards the
South. and II has been nryu.d that
an inc l'rltish powers then reserved
arc now Irish powers. and that as
| regards these services the new Free
state government VIII be supreme
even in the North. friendly ar
rangcmcnt between the North and
South was considered Imperative
nevertheless. The agreement IL OK
pected TO meet with criticism from
the extremists. Both sides have
given away something which they
had vowed they would insiat on.
SIR James Craig has admitted tho
necessity OF the boundary commits
SION. and Mr.. Collins has NO far
recognized the partition act ms to
contemplate an arrangement with
| North aud south Ulster. which is CON
templated neither in the act OF 1920
nor IN the treaty.
II Is noteworthy that IN the new
iian for The boundary commission
there is evidence OF equal distrust %
! british interference. Under thc
treaty the commission was to con-
SYST OF one man from the North and
one from the South. and n chairman
appointed by the british. Tho Brit
'Sh chairman Is now eliminated.
criticism is expected from the fol-
lowers of Eamonn dc Valern. bur MI
friends of the London treaty Will /,
IS con"idcrcd. accept the Craig Col
! inns agreement as desirable re-
SUIT o! the treaty. Business men
ana the public welcome the promise