THE IRISH TREATY.
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sm,—In the notes on the Irish Boundary question in last week's issue of the Spectator, the writer argues that the Free State Government's insistence on the "literal fulfilment" of Article 12 of the Treaty is inconsistent with their failure
to carry out Article 5 relating to Public Debt and Article 8 relating to the strength of the Army. As regards the first alleged default, may I point out that, as stated by the Colonial Secretary in the House of Commons a few days ago, Article 5 of the Treaty cannot be implemented until the area and population of the Free State have been definitely fixed by the statutory machinery to be set up under Article 12? Article 8 of the Treaty provides that the military establishments of the Free State "shall not exceed in size such proportion of the military establishments maintained in great Britain as that which the population of Ireland bears to the popu- lation of Great Britain." The population of Ireland is approximately four and a-half millions and of Great Britain forty-two millions. Therefore, the Free State Army estab- lishments should be about one-ninth of the Army establish- ments of Great Britain.
Now as to the facts. According to Whitaker the British Army establishment for the year 1923-4 is 170,800. As a result of the recent demobilization the present strength of the Free State Army is not more than 20,000 men. This ratio is almost a "literal fulfilment" of Article 8 of the Treaty, and if the 40,000 Special Constables in Northern Ireland for whom there is no parallel in the Free State are included, the Free State ratio would be much below that contemplated by the Treaty. The Free State Government employs 6,000 Civic Guards (unarmed) and 20,000 soldiers for the maintenance of law and order in the twenty-six counties, whereas the Northern Government employs 4,000 Royal Ulster Constabulary (armed), 4,734 " A " Specials, 22,709 " B " Specials and 9,000 " C " Specials (all armed), as well as over 12,000 British troops to maintain law and order in six counties.
In conclusion, may I point out that in so far as the Free State Army exceeded the ratio contemplated in Article 8 of the Treaty in the past, it was due to the determination of the Free State Government to- carry out the Treaty as a
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