Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1922-03-09
IRISH BILL PASSES THIRD
READING IN COMMONS

London, March S.-(By the A. P.l-The
Irish Free State bill passed its third read
ing in the house of commons today by a
vote of 295 to 81 This substantial ma
jority of 243 in a comparatively small
house, less than half the members beina
present, was given after a quiet and un-
eventfuI debate, in which the small band
of die hardS' maintained their oTt9Osi-
tion to the measure to the last
Winston Churchill, who had charge OF
the bill. successfully resisted any charge
in the substance of the treaty, thus keep
ing the word of the government with the
Irish signatories.
The report stage was coni7leted without
any amendment the only interest = point
being the size of the Irish army. Win
ston Churchill, secretary for the colonies.
explained that the treaty allowed of con
siderable latitude in this matter, but the
army would probably be between 10000
and $4,000 men, and if Ulster contractet
out the quota of the Free State would b.
reduced proportionately.
On the motion for the third reading,
the die hards," IN the person of Ronald
| MCNEIL, MADE a fna1 attack by moving
rejection Of the bill Mr. McNeiIPs speecf
followed the usual lines of the Ulsterite
attack. He argued that the barrier sep
arating the Free State system from the re
publican system was extremely frail and
fiimsy.
He declared that the attitude of the
government was absurd, because. with the
British trops withdrawn and under the
conditions prevailing, an Irish republic
would no sooner be proclaimed than II
would be accepted by the British govern
ment
Mr.. Churchill warmly repudiated this
but Mr.. McNeilI repeated that if Mr.
Churchill, whom he described as "tht
Right Honorable Die Hard did oppos;
such a proceeding he woald stand alone.
William Redmond declared that tht
only course for Ulster was to come into tht
free state. AR. Churchill then briefly
wound up the debate. They must not lool
at the settlement, he said, as ideal, bu
in relation to the possible alternative HI
appealed to the house not to despair to,
soon or lose heart and faith in the Ions
and vexing journey in which they mus
persevere.
Mr. Churchill ridiculed the idea tha
Ireland had lapsed into the condition o
bolsh6vik anarchy. On the contrary TIL
main life of the country was proceedin:
normally. He regretted that it had no
, been possible to submit the treaty TO Ulste
before it was signed, but he was certain
that if the treaty had not been settle
: on the night it was it was it would neve
, have ben settled at all He did not desir
, to dwell excessively on the risk of estab
fishing a republic, but invited the hous
3 to measure the enormous power, wealt
, and strength of the British empire as com
! pared with resources of Ireland.
III we strip Ireland Of her grievanc
, and her power of exciting the sympathy Q
the world and of the support she has re
: ceived from America and the dominions,
ne continued, I'VE should place Irelan
. in a position, where if she broke tn
. treaty, she would be be in the wrong an
' we should be in the right, and she woul
= be absolutely isolated in the whole world.
He concluded by appealing to the nous
;, to help the provisional government {
( Ireland to the utmost.
: The bill passed its third reading with
t out demopStration, the minority repre-
senting the normal "die hards' p" strength.