The position of North-East Lister is apparently secured under the
Settlement, but we cannot help repeating here that the security was largely obtained by the firmness and calmness of the Ulster leaders, who, of course, greatly helped to bring about the Settlement through the ultimatum they sent to the Govern- ment. The security is also due very largely to the revolt inside the Unionist Party. That revolt within a short time changed the whole character of the Government's proposals. All idea of forcing North-East Ulster into an All-Ireland Parliament by means of -moral intimidation and " peaceful picketing " was abandoned. We hardly know what to make of the Lord. Chan- cellor's jests about the precipitate imbecility " of those Unionists—among whom was Mr. Bonar Law—who attributed to the Government willingness to coerce North-East Ulster. If the newspapers were not misinformed the • stalwart minority of Unionists by no means miarepresented the Government when they said that an attempt was being made to force North-East Ulster. Now quite A different .ficheme is propounded in the Settlement, and if the Lord Chancellor means -to speak of the criticism directed . against the first scheme as though it were directed against the present Settlement he is surely confusing the issue.
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