Great Falls tribune., 1922-02-19

Washington, D. c., Feb. 16.-Only
part of the Irish situation was solved
in the acceptance Of the Sim Fein Of
the creation of the Irish Free State.
There remains to be settled the ques-
ton of the boundary between that
state and the northern section of Ire
land known as Ulster. One of the
most important clauses in the agree
ment ratified by the Dali Eireann is
that providing for a boundary com
mission to decide this matter II the
Free State and Ulster cannot do 50
amicably.
The question of this bounday is ex.
citing every Irishman in and out OF
Ireland. Michael Collins, head of the
provisional government of the Free
State, has been quoted by Sir James
Craig, premier Of Ulster, with having
promised to bring into the Free State
almost one-half Of what, is ordinarily
known as Ulster. Furthermore, num-
Der of delegations from widely separat-
ed sections of Ulster have waited upon
the men in charge of the Free State
government with petitions asking that
| their portions Of the Emerald Isle be
included in the Free State.
On this account. the initial settle
ment of the Irish troubles may be only
the forerunner Of serious disturbances
in both sections of the island.
Some Ulstermen are said to have
decided upon defying the British gov
ernment in it's proposal to turn over
| thousands of fisherman to the Free
State. They are active in denouncing
Downing street, charging that it made
an agreement with the Sim Fem dele.
CATION to include large sections Of
! what has been accepted as Ulster IN
the southern Irish dominion.
Officials Of the Free State declare
they cannot refuse allegiance to any
section Of the country pleading to be
| included in that state. They say that
| If more than one-half the inhabitants
ask for entry into the new Free State,
| then the Free State will be forced to
include them in its boundaries. ...
Mo Definite Boundaries
The fact is that Ulster has not and
never had any geographical lines. The
! nine northern counties long nave been
known as Ulster. So far as history
| Is concerned. this section included Don
egal. Londonderry and Antrim, which
extend across the north of the island
| from west TO east: Tyrone. Armagh
and Down. all south of the first three !;
and Fermanagh, Monaghan and Cavan,
below these. But when the provisional
boundary was fixed by the act of par
lament Of 1920, Donegal on the north
west was given to what is now the
Irish Free State, along with Cavan
and Monaghan, leaving Londonderry,
Antrim. Tyrone. Down, Fermanagh
and Armagh as the six counties form
ing Ulster.
According to what Sir James Craig
SAYS. it has been decided by the Irish
Free State to include in that state the
whole of Fermanagh, Tyrone, goodly
portions of Armagh and Down, as well
as the cities of Londonderry, Ennis
kiIen and Newry. Londonderry city,
with a population of $4,000. is sea-
port on the northern coast of Ireland.
Sir James is positive in his state
ment that the Free State must not
thus drive a wedge between por-
tions of Ulster
If the line between Ulster and the
Free State is settled without much
bloodshed, it will be the first instance
within the history of man that com
paratively peaceful solution has been
reached of so important an Irish prob
lem. Pugnacity and strife regarding
Ulster did not begin with the planta-
ton of James I, as some Irish have it
The earliest Irish epic, known as til
"Tain- Bo" is devoted to "scrapping
I with Ulster. "It is natural for US tc
hate proud Ulster" quoth Queen Maev