The Washington herald., 1922-02-15
Birkenhead Tells Com.
mons Republican Army
Has Defied Rule.
COLLINS RESENTS
SLOW EVACUATION
On Way>to London to De-
mand Explanation for
Halted Withdrawal.

/. LONDON. Feb. IA situation OF
extraordinary anxiety and grave
potential danger" exists on the
frontiers of Ulster and Ireland, Lord
Birkenhead. lord high chancellor,
told the house of lords in a speech
On the Irish quarrel tonight.
During the next few weeks" he
said. 1--WE are going through one OF
the gravest and most critical De-
riods within living memory"
Continuing, the lord high CHAM
cellor said that In view OF the ex-
traordinary tension. the govern
ment was not justified in contfnu-
ing the evacuation OF crown forces,
and declared that there were i'm
fortant areas IN ireland where the
Irish Republican army has appar-
emily defied the provisional govern
ment in a mutinous manner.
Collins ON Way to London.
Meanwhile. Mich.eI Collins is
hurrying. to London from Dublin to
seek an explanation for the cessa-
ton OF the withdrawal Of British
troops which had proceeded rapidly
until the present Ulster border CHI
sis In which score have been
killed. IT is understood that the
Eeder OF the. provisional govern
Sment is extrt inely resentful of ;he
British goyerament's action. which
nc feels implies thar the Irish pro.
ftsional government; Is incapable of
preserving order.
winston Churchill, minister for
the colonies, told the house of COM
mons that before leaving Dublin.
Collins promised to take steps 10
obtain the prompt release of ali
kidnapped Ulstermen.
Arrangerhents to transport troops
from Dublin today were once more
cancelled on orders from London.
and the evacuation appears to have
been completely stopped.
Release OF Prisoner. SOUGHT.
1t was indicated in some ouar-
.ers that the government is using
the continued presence of the
troops In Ireland as an influence
towards obtaining the release Of
ulster prisoners. although churchill
announced that apart from serious
political reasons the government
has received the unanimous advice
OF military leaders against using
troops on the south side of the
border"
An article published, in Dublin in
the current issue Of "The Republic
OF Ireland" by r. C. Barton, is at
tracing much attention here. The
article reviews the events preced-
ing the signing of the Irish treaty
at London.
Barton declares that Lloyd George
emphasized the fact that the Brit
ish ministers are hazarding their
political. futures, and that the Irish
delegates must take the same risks.
AT one time," he continues,
Lloyd George particularly ad-
dressed himself to me and said
soiemnly that those who were not
for peace must take the full re-
sponsibflity for being for war
which would, follow, Immediately
the refusal of any delegate to sign
the treaty" ...'.
Barton reveals the determination
Of Arthur Griffith not to permit a
break on the point: Of allegiance,
IL the Irish could gain satisfaction
on the -other points. He reeounts
how Cpllins, Grifith and Duggan,
on December 5--the final night be-
fore the signing--spent two hours
and a half arguing with Duffy and
me when we refused to sign"
sGriffith.. he said, declared he would
consider himself murderer IL he
didn't sign.
Michael Collins, Barton says, de-
clined to press the counter-pro-
posals which were subsequently en-
bodied in the famous De Valera
document -