All the public statements which have been made in connexion
with the Irish Boundary problem since we wrote last week confirm us in the belief that the British Government do not intend to force a settlement. They will encourage the two parts of Ireland to compose their differences in a friendly way, and, as that is the only way, we are sure that the policy which we are attributing to the Government is a wise one. Northern Ireland will not be coerced. On Thursday, May 1st, Sir James Craig, at a luncheon given by the Ulster Association, repudiated the suggestion of Lord Birkenhead that Northern Ireland should appoint a member to the Boundary Commission, and in doing so revealed an interesting piece of history. He said that he and Mr. Michael Collins, with the approval of the British Govern- ment, agreed on January 21st, 1922, upon a supplement to the Treaty which read as follows :- " The Boundary Commission as outlined in the Treaty to be altered, the Governments of the Free State and Northern Ireland to appoint one representative each, to report to Mr. Collins and Sir James Craig, who will mutually agree on behalf of the respective Governments on the future boundaries between the two.'
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