Further, a triple agreement had been reached between the British
Government, the Provisional Government and the Northern Government to establish a neutral zone in the Pettigo and Belleek districts. It might become necessary to go further and draw " a new military line " between Northern and Southern Ireland. The murder of Sir Henry Wilson would not and could not affect the main policy of the British Government. Now that the Provisional Government had received an expression of confidence at the elections they would be required to act both on the letter and in the spirit of .the Treaty. He must state plainly that mere denunciation of murder by the Provisional Government, " unaccompanied by the apprehension of a single murderer," was not enough. Again, the retention within the Free State of the whole apparatus of a Republican Government was not in accordance either with the will of the. Irish people or with the Treaty. " This sort of thing must come to an end. If it ,does not come to an end it is my duty to say on behalf of His Majesty's Government that we shall regard the Treaty ea having been formally violated—that we shall take no step to carry out or legalize its further stages and that we shall resume. full liberty of action."
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