Evening star., 1922-03-05
BY GEORGE N. BARNES.
Dritish Parliament Leader.


By Radio to The Star.
LONDON, March 4.-Are Michael
Collins and Arthur Griffith teopardiz-
ing their future influence and power
in the Irish Free State by their pres
ent temporary service as representa-
tives Of England?
Certainly they are in an anomalous
English government until an Irish
election can be held. they at the same
time owe an allegiance to Sinn Fein.
They could not possibly function ef-
fectively in the face Of an adverse
Sim Fein vote.
De Valera meantime is actively en-
gagged in spreading propaganda
against the treaty and urging its re-
lection. The provisional government.
therefore. Is being subjected to criti-
cal scrutiny. This will continue. and
any slip will be many times magni-
fed.
Every day the affairs of the south
ern Irish government have to be
dealt with. They cannot be held in
suspense. Collins and his colleagues
are responsible for the Irish services
adequate means to provide them. The
British government. therefore. has al
located a sum equal to six million
dollars for the immediate require
ments. Arrangements also have
been made between Dublin and Lon
don for compensating those who suf
fered loss or injury in the recent
guerrilla warfare.
The logic of events is bringing the
provisional government more and
more into cooperation with the gov
ernment in London. How that will
to be seen.
Despite an ever deepening depres-
sion of trade and difficulties about the
Genoa conference. the Irish question
continues to occupy first place in the
minds of responsible persons in this
sion than choice, because we would
fain devote ourselves to the economic
evils which confront u.s.
But We are arrested by events in
Ireland. The surrender of Collins to
De Valera at the Sim Fein Club con-
vention last week led to a postpone
ment of the bill in the British parlia-
ment legalizing the Irish treaty. Con-
ferences with the Dublin ministers,
however. cleared the air and the bill
has again started through its parlia-
mentary stages The net results of
De Valera's victory over Collins and
Griffith has been to strengthen British
opposition to the governments policy
and to retard the working out OF a
time table for the various stages of
the Irish bill. But, providing no fur
ther obstacles shall be interposed. the
bill should pass in about fortnight
There can be no election in Ireland.
however. for at least three months
and then. in accordance with the ar
rangement made between the two
Sinn Fein sections the vote will be on
a constitution as we'll as the treaty.
Collins and his colleagues appear to
hold the view that their acceptance OF
De valera's terms Of three months
delay and the inclusion of the consti-
evils open to them. For II they had
pressed the issue to vote defeat and
chaos might have ensued.
The inclusion Of the constitution In
the campaign of the next three
months is almost certain to lead to
further factional troubles. Therein
lies the danger Of delay. An unfor-
ton is that Irish unity seems to be
receding. Sir James Craig. Ulster
premier, has even declined to proceed
with q judicial inquiry into recent
killings at Clones or to have any
parley with the southern government
until all kidnapped Ulster persons are
In the northern area itself disor-
ders are subsiding. 1t is true there
has been further bombing and shoot
ing at Belfast. for which no arrests
have been made, but these may prove
to be the last outrages to be COM
mitted with impunity in Belfast. for