The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-02-03
CRAIG and
COLLINS IN
new SPLIT
Ulster Boundary Confer.
ference Results in q
Deadlock.

London, Feb. 3.-(By the Asso-
ciated Press.)-Sir James Craig,
the Ulster premier, declared in a
statement today that he had been
told by Michael Collins, head of the
southern Ireland provisional gov
ernment, at their conference in
Dublin yesterday that Collins had
made promise of bringing into the
Irish Free State almost half of
north Ireland. including Ferma-
nagh, Tyrone. large parts of
Armagh and Down, and London
derry city, Enniskillen and Newry.
Sir James said he had suggested
to Mr.. Collins 4 weeks adjourn
ment for consideration of the situ-
a,ion regarding the boundaries be-
tween Ulster and south Ireland, but
that Collins had replied the differ
ences separating them were SO
wide that postponement would be
useless.
The Ulster premier's statement
was made to the press after he had
conferred with Winston Churchill,
the colonial secretary, at the CO.
! lonial Office. Sir James emphasized
| the gravity which he attached to
the hitch in the negotiations with
the provisional government.
Craig Issues Statement
Il went to Dublin yesterday" he
said, "to discuss with Michael Col
Inns certain outstanding questions
hoping to promote peace in Ire
land. 1t was only when l started
from Belfast, however, and read the
morning papers that 1 suspected
= any change of attitude on the part
of Collins.
Il notice that he had received
deputations of Sim Feiners from
different parts of Ulster the pre-
yious day demanding that their
areas should be taken into the Free
State. Collins replied to the depu-
tations that they were only trying
to force open the door and using
unnecessary energy in doing SO
Arthur Griffith, who was present
said he and his fellow delegates
had urged the claims of those dis
tricts for weeks during the negotia-
tions in London, and the result was
that the Free State should extend
over Ireland, that Ulster should
have the option of voting herself
out within month, but that if she
did so, a boundary commission
would be set up to decide if sucf
districts should come into the FTe'
State. That, said Griffith, was the
position today also.
"Difficuities Revived"
81 decided to have the matter
cleared up Immediately so as t.
obviate even a shadow of furthel
misunderstanding, and l have Il
admit that in the conversation will
MIR. Collins yesterday the Difficult
ties regarding the Ulster boundaries
have been revived in intensified
form
when the treaty was entered
into between the British govern
ment and representatives of south
ern Ireland we in Ulster were no
considered. We faced the possibil
ity of loss of territory without ou
consent-territory solemnly assur
ed as an established government b.
his majesty, the king, and the par
lament of Great Britain. l endeav
ored to find a solution of the diff
Guilty, earnestly trying to brin,
about an honorable peace in al
honorable way"
Situation Serious.
The Ulster premier said the Brit
, ish ministers had assured him pri
lyately and that Prime Ministe
Lloyd George had stated in tn
house of commons, that the bound
ary commission proviso meant
mere readjustment Of the bound
airy.
Il am Offering to lay my view
, before the whole British cabinet,
Sir James added, land will consul
; nv colleagues in our local parlia
ment and in the imperial parlia
, ment regarding the steps to be tax
: en- in consequence of the seriou
, situation-one which is not of m
making, but which 1 earnestly trie
| to avoid"