The New York herald., 1922-03-07
Clause Dissolving Southern
Parliament Passes by
Vote of 217 to 36.
TALK OF TWO GOVERNORS
Churchill Promises. Ulster One
if She Cannot Agree With !
Free State.

'
A spirited debate in the House of
Commons in the resumption of the
discussion to-day in committee stage
of the Irish bill during the course of
which all the Ulster members walked
out, was followed by acceptance Of the
operative provision of the bill givins
the Anglo-Irish treaty force of law,
and the adoption of an amendment
dissolving the Southern Parliament
and providing for the holding of elec-
tions not later than four months after
the passage of the act The commit
tee stage was eventually concluded
amid cheers.
The withdrawal of the Ulster men,
bers came after vehement protests
against the decision of the House to
apply closure to the first subsection
vision of the bill, closure eliminating
fourteen amendments. This action
was voted 1872 to 81. while the sub
section was added by further ma
by Sir Hamar Greenwood, relating to
the dissolution Of the Southern Par
lament and the holding of elections
was adopted, PIT to 36.
Winston Spencer Churchill. Secretary
for the Colonies, who was in charge of
the Dill. declared this. il no agreement
was reached between Ulster and the
Free State regarding the election of
Governor-General there should be a sep
arate Governor-General for the north OF
ireland. He subsequently moved closure.
Strong protests followed on the part OF
the Ulsterites and die hards," Ronald
McNeill announcing that he declined to
participate in the further proceedings.
His example was followed by other
members. who left the house one by one.
Calls Scene DisRrncefuI.
viscount wolmer. Unionist, declared
that the adoption of closure represented
the most disgraceful scene witnessed in
tho House of Commons since the days
of Cromwell. AS a protest he moved to
report progress. which was ruled out OF
order.
Thomas Moles. Belfast Unionist, Bit
corded the Ulster members and their
amendments. He declared that they
had been treated with contempt.
The closure, which cuts out fourteen
proposed amendments, was vehemently
resisted after 1t had been carried. The
first subsection was added to the bill by
n vote OF 1s3 to 80. after which there
was a series OF strong protests from the
Ulstern,en and the "die hards" against
~ f,..& H.. 20 s.I~
Curris Craig, Unionist member for
South antrim. declared the Government
lad iefused to alter single line of the
Free State bill at the request OF the
Ulster members. yet as soon as the DIb-
lin people had passed resolution ne
cessitating change in the bill the Gov
ernment agreed to that change.
Elections Postponed.
Discussing the Greenwood amendment.
Mr. Churchill explained that IL was
necessary because of the agreement
made in Ireland to put off the elections
for three months.
The Ulster walkout occurred directly
after the negative action without di-
vision on an amendment moved by Mr..
MCNEIL. the effect of which would have
been to render subsection 9 Of clause /
of the treaty imperative. Previously
the Ulster members had proposed a
number of amendments which met with
objection from the Government and were
Withdrawn or negatived with or without
division. One of these offered by Can't
Craig, provided for the abolition of the
High Court of Appeals for Ireland and
the substitution of a court of appeal in
northern Ireland 50 far as northern Ire
land was concerned