New-York tribune., 1922-05-30
British Forces
To Aid Ulster,
Churchill Says
Will Not Gross Frontier.
However, Without Ap-
proval of Imperial Cabi.
net, He Tells Commons
Admits Grave Situation
Defers Statement on Policy
in Ireland Owing to De.
lays in the Conference
By Arthur S. Draper

From The Tribnne's Europeon Bureau
Copyright, 1922, New York Tribune Inc
LONDON, May 29.-Unforeseen de-
lays in the negotiations between the
British Cabinet and representatives of
/ the Free State provisional government,
who are in London, forestalled the
scheduled announcement in the House
OF Commons to-day of the British pol
ICY. Although the situation is serious,
no definite turn for the worse has taken
place. Premier Lloyd George had a
long conference with his colleagues
who signed the Irish treaty and ha d
hoped to meet the Irish delegates again
tonight, but fina ly deferred seeing
them until tomorrow.
The situation is regarded as grave,
but no break is expected for at least
a week. The Irish delegates have not
fixed date for their return, but It is
probable that Sir James Craig, Ulster
Premier, will be asked to come to Lon
don, as the North figures largely in
conversations now taking place.
The House of Commons was plainly
disappointed when Winston Spencer
Churchill, Secretary for the Colonies,
announced that he was unable to re-
port the result of the governments
conference with the Free State lead
ers. Although Parliament was scheduled
to adjourn tomorrow for the HOLIDAYS.
Austen Chamberlain, the government
leader, said it would remain in session
until next week
The Colonial Secretary said he hoped
that the postponement of adjournment
would give Parliament time to dis
cuss the decision reached on the Irish
question.
In some quarters Churchil's brief
statement, coupled with Mr.. Chamber
ialn's announcement postponng the
rising of the House, is interpreted as
indicating that break with the south
OF Ireland was imminent, but in gov
ernment quarters it was said tnat no
such development was to be feared in
tried to get Mr.. Churchill to promise
that whatever arrangement was made
with the Irish Free State delegates all
representatives in the Irish Parlia-
ment would be required to take the
oath Of allegiance. This will be re-
called as the chief objection that the
De Valera followers had set up against
the. treaty.
Reports from northern Ireland in
dicate that shootings and disorders
continue to spread and that now no
part Of Ulster is normal. Six men were
reported killed in fight along the
frontier between the police and the
republicans, while further incendiary
fires were described in dispatches from
Belfast, Twenty-six republicans were
arrested in that city and a large
quantity Of arms and ammunition was
seized
A new phase of the trouble was de-
veloped in the form of naval activity
along the Ulster coast Churchill said
in Parliament that Sir James Craig
had asked for naval assistance and that
ships are now in position off Derry
City where concentration of Sim
Fein troops is taking place Several
warships also are lying at Carlingford
Lough A dispatch says that firing is
reported off Newry, but it was ex-
planned that this probably is due to
target practice on the gunboats. At
least a dozen ships of various types
are now on the Ulster coast, while
there are also several thousand Brit
ish troops concentrated in the north
ern area.