Evening star., 1924-08-01
INSISTS ON KEEPING
PLEDGE TO IRELAND
Colonial Secretary Promises
Britain Will Not Back
Out of Treaty.
WILL SEE PREMIERS
WILL SEE PREMIERS
Lloyd George Says His Party Will
Stand to End With Laborites
on Measure.

By the Associated Press.
LONDON, August 1.-The House Of
Commons, upon reassembling this morn
ing. at once took up the Irish question.
Colonial Secretary Thomas said the gov
ernment proposed Immediately to intro
duce legislation giving effect to the
Anglo-Irish treaty and to press for pas
sage of that legislation through Parlia-
ment regardless of the consequences to
the government
He announced that he had invited
William T. Cosgrave, head of the South
ern Irish government, and Sir James
Craig, the Ulster premier. to come to
London to confer with him. The pro
posed legislation would not be intro
duced until he had met Mr.. Cosgrave
and Sir James, but a bill dealing with
the treaty would be introduced If they
failed to agree before the adjournment
of Parliament.
Intent Of ParIiment.
Mr.. Thomas said that it was no doubt
the intention of Parliament when IL d p
proved and ratified the treaty that, In
the event of the government of Northern
Ireland exercising its option under
Article XII, the commission to be ap-
pointed unQer lne pTOVlSO VI lHdt dItlC4t
should in fact be appointed They tthe
government) felt bound in honor to Sc
cure, so far as it lay in their power,
that this intention be carried into effect.
He expressed hope that the govern
ment of Northern Ireland might yet see
its way clear to appoint a representative
on the boundary commission, but if il
did not the legislation would be pro-
ceeded with.
Not merely the honor of the gov
h,,@ 1 80 &c
try, is involved in seeing that the
obligation definitely imposed upon the
United Kingdom by the treaty is full
filled in spirit and letter" the secre-
tary declared MY colleagues and
myself are not prepared to omit any
step which in their view is necessary
to place the good faith of Parliament
and the people beyond question"
Fears Hard Feelings.
He hoped there would be no passion
or feeling in the discussion. He said
he had striven continuously Tor
peaceful settlement ever since he had
been in office. He was sure, however
that the suggested Legislation would
be hotly contested and that the long
controversy could not be settled
smoothly.
But we must not forget" he con-
tinued. that this treaty, whether
good or bad. was not only ratified by
the House, but was ultimately in
dorsed by the country as whole at
general election. | can conceive
and ask the House to realize it, what
" Uuld De The ell ect witnln the empire
itself and abroad if il went forth that
Parliament and the country did not
intend to give effect to what they
said in the act passed by the HSuse.'
Former Premier Lloyd Geor3. TAX
ing the floor, said he understdbd Mr..
Thomas statement to mean that he
would make clear to the world that
the governmental heads of this doun-
try were not to shuttle out of the bar
gain on a mere question of macslin-
cry, and that whatever measures
were necessary in order to carry out
an honorable engagement, honoredsby
the people of Great Britain, with the
Irish race, they intended to carry Nt
out If they did that they would nave ?
the support of his colleagues and hilnl
self.