Lord Midleton, in the House of Lords on Monday, enforced
Lord Lansdowne's plea for the loyalists of Southern Ireland and declared that the British Govern- ment were morally bound to see that justice was done. While he did not blame the Coalition Government for making the treaty, he declared that they had erred in withdrawing the troops and police before the Free State Government was strong enough to maintain order. Lord Birkenhead made a somewhat sharp reply to this criticism of the Cabinet in which he had played a prominent part, and said that we must give the Free State Government financial support if it was to stand any chance of surviving. The Duke of Devonshire, on behalf of the Government, very naturally declined to make any promises, though he admitted that the 'Government must protect the interests of those who • had suffered through their attachment to the Union. * * * *
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