FRIDAY, MAY 20, 1932.
THE CHINA MAIL.
thrown himself into the Sinn Fein! cause, and, as is apt to bò the way with converts, his new faith burned) with the intensest fame. Here was no will for peace, no desire for con-i ciliation.
Ireland's Age-Old Fight With England
forces.
Sir Austen Chamberlain On The Treaty
STRUGGLE OVER THE OATH
REVIEWED,
WHEN WAR THREATENED
into
his secured
con-
+
Erskine Chliders's love for Eng- land had turned to inextinguishable hate. Once again the old adage was Illustrated in his person; he had become more Irish than the Irish themselves. I sse him, sitting with his back to the window behind Arthur Griffith's' chair, aloof and hostile.
Is it a mere trick of fancy that, when I try to Conjure up his features, his face is always in shadow-as dark as the thoughts behind it? He, too, met a tragic fate as a rebel against the Free State which issued from the Con
Struggle Over the Oath.
till December. 5.
Time
WDS
far
Was
Government And The Shing-Mun Scheme
Work To Be Commenced Immediately
HOME SANCTION SOUGHT
DR. KOTEWALL'S SUGGESTION NOT ACCEPTED.
so.
Assurance was given by His Excellency the In view of the final passage of the Bill to abol-ference.
Officer Administering the Government (the Hon. ish the Oath of Allegiance, which was secured by This is no place to write the Mr. W. T. Southorn, C.M.G.) at yesterday's meet- 77 votes to 69 in the Irish Free State Dail yester-history of the Conference. 1t day, the following illuminating article on the Irish dragged on for weeks; more than ing of the Legislative Council that the Government Treaty by Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Secre- once it was on the brink of disaster. was in entire agreement with the Unofficial mem- its first sitting was held onbers with regard to the necessity of immediately tary in the Conservative Government, is of timely October 11; the end did not conte interest.
commencing work on the second section of the On that day we sat morning and Shing-Mun Scheme, and assured the meeting that The Irish Treaty is Bttle more He had his own code of honour. afternoon and late into the night. the views expressed by the Unofficial Members than ten years old, writes Sir and to it he was true; but it was The Ulster Parliament was to meet Austen Chamberlain in the Daily not mine, and between him and me the next day, and Mr. Lloyd George. Would be telegraphed to the Home Authorities, in Telegraph of March 29. It was there could be no real sympathy, the Prime Minister, had promised order that sanction might be secured as soon as signed on December 5, 1921. Yet and perhaps partial under- Sir James Craig that he shoula of the men who signed it four have standings only, the lount of know the result of the Conference possible.
The Government did not accept universal meterage should be. ins already passed away. Arthur Birkenhead's services in the Con-before the opening of its session.
as Yet we seemed Griffith, leader of the Irish Delega- ference that he did enter
from the Hon. Dr. H. H. Kotewall's sug- troduced as soon as possible, and tion, died within a few months, Michael Collins's mind, won his agreement as ever; indeed, the pro- gestion of an experimental scheme that in the rider main districts worn out by toil and suffering, sympathy and
spect of any agreement seemed to for relieving the hardship of those the cost of transferring existing
the have receded since wo`last met. All who have to carry water at the house-services from
rider Michael Collins was murdered dur-fidence. ing the troubles which followed upon
were reopened; street fountains. However, it was mains to principal' mains .ghould To Arthur Griffith all this blood-the old questions the establishment of the Free State shed was abhorrent. There was the Irish delegates appeared to have indicated that it was proposed to be borne by public funds. Con and the withdrawal of the British nothing of the swashbuckler or gone back on the decisions already take certain action in this direc: siderable progress has been made corner boy about him. He had been reached. The Conference adjourn- tion, and that the expenditure of with this scheme, and a large about $25,000 would make it pos- number of meters have been fixed Birkenhead und Worthington-a student. of history and politics, ed for lunch. Evans lived some years longer, and and-if I mistake not-at one time
Once again the chance of settle-sible to give longer hours of water within the Rider Main Areas. The passed away in peace, but they, too, a college lecturer.
ment seemed likely to be shipwreck-supply at the street fountains, the Government will give this Council
| number of which is to be doubled an opportunity to discuss the pro-} died mid-way in their careers, leav- He had thought that he could find cd on the position of Ulster.
within the next ten days or ing to their friends not only the a model for the future relations of
passing. It
posal for the abolition of the rid memory of fine service faithfully Ireland and Great Britain in some already evident that the messenger The supply through meters is like er main system generally before the filling of the reservoira makes performed. but lasting regret for modification of the constitution of to Sir James Craig would be unable ly to be further curtailed.
At a subsequent meeting of the the reintroduction of the rider the work they might still have done the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and to catch the boat train, and special
for his Finance Committee a vote for the main system a practical possibi- had their lives been spared to the had published a thoughtful book in arrangements were made
sum named was readily approved. lity. allotted spaa.
which he examined this possibility. journey. Lord Birkenhead in Council. But the Great War had intervened Then Mr. Lloyd George appealed Birkenhead played a vital part in the union of Austria and Hungary to Arthur Griffith, reminding him the negotiation of the agreement, had been dissolved, and he had in that he had undertaken that, if we
The Hon. Dr. R. H. Kotewall, upon which I could never have the main ceased to regard their consented to. such a provision for C.M.G., LLD., pursuant to notice, entered without his aid. I well re-iformer relationship as a suitable Ulster as we now offered
The Hon. Sir Henry Pollock, Kt, to him, asked the
following questions | K.C., then moved the following re- member a morning soon after the model on which to base the future he would not let us down.
solution:- first opening of communications Irish settlement.
Griffith answered, simply, "I said standing to his name:-
view of the great That the Unofficial Membera with Mr. De Valera, when he walked}
I would not let you down on that, hardship which residents of of this - Council in view of the into my room in Downing Street] Some new solution had to be and I won't." just as I was telephoning to say worked out, and he was ready, and Again the discussion was resum-suffering in having to obtain their shortage, respectfully urge the even eager, to consider calmly and ed, and roamed over many points. water supply from the street Hong Kong Government to presa "You and 1," he said, "bear a dispassionately any scheme which. At last the Prime Minister put the fountains in this hot weather, will the Home Authorities immediate- great load of responsibility. Unless whilst recognising the national decisive question: Were they pre- the Government, as an experiment, ly to sanction the commencement we are agreed, we shall smash the status of Ireland and securing pared to stand by the agreement as restore the supply to the houses in of the second section of the party and destroy any chance of freedom from British interference now drawn?
these districts on the same restric-] Shing Mun Water Scheme. settlement. It la time we ench knew in its internal affairs, would con- Griffith replied that he was, but tion in respect of hours of supply,
Emphatic Protest. exactly where the other standa.” tinue its association with the British he still spoke only for himself. so as to give the people an oppor In doing so he said:--
And then he proceeded to explain Empire and give peace to its dis- Allegiance or Quick War. tunity to prove that, in the pre- This motion is being made as an his views with that clarity and tracted people.
That, said the Prime Minister, sent acute state of the water, emphatic protest by the united brevity which always distinguished He had, I think, no hatred of Eng-was not enough; if we signed, we situation, they are able to keep body of Unofficial Members against him in council. I found that he land in his heart; he was ready, as should sign as a delegation and down consumption of water ob- any further delay by the Home had come to say to me what I had so few Irishmen are, to forget and, stake the life of the Government on tained through such direct supply, Authorities in sanctioning the com- meant to say to him, and thence therefore, to forgive, and though our signature. Was the Irish Dele- to the same level as that through mencement of the Second section forth we co-operated without he stood firmly by what he conceived¦gation prepared to do the same? the street supply on the under-] of the Shing Mun scheme, and also shade of difference throughout the to be the rights of Irish nationhood. "I have to communicate with Sir standing that every effort is made in the hope that it may strengthen long negotiations, the many confer- he was broadminded enough to un-James Craig to-night. Here are the by the three Chinese, members of the hands of the Hong Kong ences, and the Parliamentary strug-derstand, and within those limits to alternative letters which I have pre- the Legislative Council to impress Government, which Unofficial gle which followed.
endeavour to meet the British point|pared, one enclosing the Articles of upon the people the imperative Members cannot doubt is fully Cool With Nerves of Steel.
of view.
Agreement reached by his Majesty's necessity for conserving every alive to the serious gravity of the
that I must see him.
Griffith Always Calm.
DR. KOTEWALL'S QUESTIONS.
1. In
SIR HENRY POLLOCK'S MOTION.
the rider main districts ara present serious recurrent water
To the public he sometimes show- Differing as the two men did in Government and yourselves, and the drop of water, and that the street present, water-situation. ed himself cynical, flippant and outward appearance, in their out other saying that the Sinn Fein re- supply will be reverted to, should. This grave situation, seeing that violent. To his colleagues in any took on life, in their previous train-presentatives refuse the oath of al- it be found that the consumption this Colony la dependent upon re- time of difficulty or crisis he was a ing and in the methods by which leglance and refuse to come within of a direct bouse supply appréciservoir storage, combined with tower of strength the most loyal they pursued their ends, they were the Empire.
ably exceeds that of a street foun-catch-waters, for its water supply,
letter am I to send?"
can only be relieved by the im
whether any houses in the rider-gent pushing on to completion of And he concluded with a pas-main districts have been discon- the large dam at Shing-Mun, with them to think nected from, the rider-maina and, its potential storage of 8,000 mil-
rejected
its if so, will it give the reasons for lion gallone, together with 80
its action, In view of the state necessary catchwaters.
and unselfish of friends, careless for united in their devotion to their "If I send this letter, it is war-tain. himself but careful for them; gay country's cause and in their desire and war within three days! Which 2. Will the Government state, mediate commencement and ur-. and light-hearted in moments of for peace. case; serious, cool-headed and with! nerves of steel in time of stress and Collins's Gay Recklessness. danger. The very fact that life Collins, for all his spirit of reck-sionate appeal to was to him a gallant adventure, to lessness and devil-may-care ways, again before they be as gallantly encountered, created was not without a sense of realities, generous a settlement.
It was now nearly eight o'clock.ment made by His Excellency the Resolution of 1929. a link between him and Michael In the hard school of experience
On July 18, 1925, the following Collins without which we
might he had been forced to recognise that, The Conference adjourned to meet Governor, Sir Cecil Clementi, in
It was 11.20 before this Council on September 23, 1929 resolution which was a form of nover have reached agreement. whilst he could continue the fight again at ten
Arthur Griffith and Michael and inflict infinite trouble and loss the Irish delegates returned; what (Hansard 1929, p. 232), namely: resolution then proposed by me, as "It will, of course, be impos- amended to meet the views of the Collins were the outstanding figures or England and her friends, there struggles had passed within the
Bible to
discard the rider-main then Governor, H. E. Sir Cecil among the Irish Delegation. United could be but one end to the strug Delegation during those hours we
but the system until there is an assur-Clementi, was unanimously passed in their passionate love of Ireland, gle if England persisted; and that, could only conjecture,
ed supply of water available both in this Council (See Hansard 1929 in all else they were as different, as even if wearied of so much blooden- atmosphere had changed.
Some explanations were asked and on the island and on the maia-p. LII) A ed and of so thankless a task,
land throughout the year; and "That, in the opinion of this Griffith, small, quiet, drab, almost she finally abandoned the struggle, given; the meaning of some pas
the Government will certainly Council it is Imperative in the insignificant in appearance, with the Ireland's ruin would have been ac-sages was made clearer.
give this Council an opportunity Interests of this Colony that air of a tired scholar worn out by complished before that end was
to debate the matter before tho permanent measures to increase too much burning of the midnight reached.
rider-mains are abolished.".
the water supply of the Colony should be pressed on, with the COLONIAL SECRETARY'S utmost despatch.”
two men can be
REPLY.
Replying for the Government the Hon. Mr. E. R. Haillfa, CMG 03E, acting Colonial Becretary, said, ww
The Delegation Sign. The Prime Minister thereupon oil; Collins, tall of stature, with In the offer of the British Govern asked whether, if these changes swaggering gait, loud voice and ment, if sincerely meant and loyal-were accepted by the British Gov noisy laughter, a figure that seemed ly pursued, they saw the opportunity ernmont, the Irish representatives | to belong to the open spaces and to realise all that was essential in would sign as a delegation and re- the rough life of frontier settle their aims and to save their native commend the agreement with their ments or mining camps.
land from anarchy and destruction united strength to the Dail.". What exact part he played in the Collins, no less than Griffith, desired
This time Griffith replied, in the murderous outrages of those peace.
name of them all, that they would. troubled times, I do not know, There Far different was that dark spirit Then," said the Prime Minister, 1. The Government does not feel had been a price set on his own who accompanied them and their "we accept." head, and he would have met short colleagues as secretary of the Irish A braver man than- Arthur mains. The Director of Pubile
ant shrift had he fallen into the hands delegation... Eraking Childers was Griffith I have never met. Works has a scheme under con- of those who sought his capture, the nephew of a Cabinet Minister, Here is a problem for the pay-pideration by which a longer He bore us. no malice for it, to who in Mr. Gladstone's Govern-chologist. The day had been one period of supply can be given from him it was the fortune of warments had been successively First of unrelieved strain. The fenalon street fountains, walle
· He told with hamour the story of Lord of the Admiralty Chancellor reached its height during the long supply will be made av his narrow
escapes, and at auch of the Exchequer, and Secretary of wait for the return of the Irish thong on metered sup moments was the spirit of Irish State for War. A delegates in the evening. Fence or hoped that this recklessness, and fun. had become known before the
Sisane still
In the read
~~ The fighting and its grifi accom- Great War as the author of that
paniment of murder and arson, were brilliant story The Riddle of the Bu
to him but Incidents in the
(for freedom. He held the lives.
hits enemies as cheaply 18 hon his owns
Sanda," and in the
fought, gallantly in the Force
human
justified in re-opening the rider-
Pressing Need of Adequate Seeing Supply, Again, in the debate on the Bad- get on September 19, In that year I, speaking on behalf of all the Un- official Members of Council, oxid
Another pressing need is fan adequate water-supply. It seRMS most regrettable that your. Ex cellency is not even now able to lay before us definita waterworks extension proposals under the second section of the Shing-Mon for schen
örter
will be
Heeds
seeing that the full Hong Kong Island are
Mr under
ven
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