Irish Bill

The House of Lords did not send the Irish Bill (TIME, Sept. 29 et seq.) back to the Commons. An amendment was proposed by Lord Carson; but, reminded by Lord Salisbury that it would be unfortunate to enter into conflict with "another place" (stock phrase of the Lords for the House of Commons), he withdrew the motion and the bill was passed.

The Speaker of the House of Commons was thereupon summoned to the House of Lords to hear the Royal Assent given to the bill, the full title of which is the Irish Free State (Confirmation of Agreement) Bill. The measure became a law of the land, a law by which the Government at London is empowered to appoint a commissioner for Northern Ireland on the Boundary Commission.

At Belfast, Sir James Craig, Premier of Northern Ireland, sounded an ominous note when he declared, in a speech, that, if the decision of the Boundary Commission were unacceptable to the Ulster Parliament and no other honorable solution could be found, he would resign, place himself at the head of the people as their chosen leader to defend any territory which the Boundary Commission might wish to filch from them.