Mr. Churchill began by saying that he was about to
make only an interim statement. He could not do more as the details of the draft Irish Constitution were still confidential. He said that the evidence was overwhelming that the Irish people as a whole were willing to accept and work the Treaty in good faith, but the pact between Mr. Collins and Mr. De Valera had been a surprise and a shock to everybody. Mr. Collins, repre- senting the vast majority, had made huge concessions to Mr. De Valera, who 'epresented a small minority. The result was
that the Republicans would).* in great force in the new Govern. ment—a Government which, under the terms of the Treaty, was to owe allegiance to the Crown.
" If " (said Mr. Churchill) " Mr. Do Valera and his friends become members of that Government without signing the necessary declaration, the Treaty is broken by that very act. The Imperial Government will resume such liberty of action whether in regard to the resumption of powers which have boon transferred or the reoccupation of territory as we think appropriate and proportionate to the gravity of the breach." Mr. Churchill accepted Mr. Collins's excuse for his extraordinary plan at its face value—namely, that without unity among tie rival leaders it would be impossible to restore order in Ireland. Therefore the Government proposed to stand by the Treaty and wait in the hope that good faith would in the end prevail. But in the meantime he had to admit that the Ulster Govern- ment and the Provisional Government had been driven further apart than ever. Belleek and Pettigo, in the Northern area, had been captured by Republican forces. Mr. Griffith and Mr. Collins had, however, repudiated this operation and disavowed all responsibility.
