THE BOUNDARY COMMISSION , 1921-1925 .......
A British 'sleight-of-hand' which caused a mutiny within British forces in Ireland.......
....... the 1921 Treaty of Surrender was unlawfully changed by the Brits on the 9th October 1924 ; 15 days later (on 24th October 1924) , Westminster placed a Mr. J.R. Fisher (a 'safe pair of hands') on the Boundary Commission to sit beside its other 'friend' on that three-person Commission , South-African Judge Feetham , who was also the (British-appointed) Chairperson of that Commission .......
The Free Staters in Leinster House could (and should) have taken a legal case stating that the Boundary Commission was not properly constituted , as per the agreed 1921 Treaty , thereby highlighting , on an international stage , British duplicity - but that would have required 'balls' , excuse the language , and the Free Staters , then, as now , have none .
Plus , on 7th October 1924 (which was two days before Westminster took it on itself to 're-jig' the 1921 Treaty) , 'Sir' James Craig (Stormont 'Prime Minister') had stood up in that 'parliament' and made a speech directed at Westminster - Craig was well-aware that the British would not hesitate to 'cross' their 'friends' , as well as their enemies and he knew they were only days away from appointing a Stormont representative to the Boundary Commission ; so he 'reminded' them of where he stood -
- Craig stated in his speech that an " unfavourable " decision by the Boundary Commission would see him resign as Stormont 'Prime Minister' and take charge of at least 40,000 armed men who were of similar mind with him , and that they would not rule out any steps necessary " ... to defend their territory ..... " .
The chances are that 'Sir' Craig had already been assured by Westminster that he had nothing to fear from the Commission , but what career politician can resist an opportunity for a bit of 'grandstanding' ?
Then came another 'spanner' in the Free State 'works' : on 7th November 1925 , a newspaper in London ('The London Morning Post') reported that the Boundary Commission had apparently decided that the Free State should hand over some of its territory to the (pro-British) Stormont 'parliament' ....... !
(MORE LATER).
WE FIGHT ON , SAY IRA CHIEFS .......
... and Maggie is still on their hit list .
Twenty years into their campaign against the British Army , the IRA is still as far from victory , or defeat , as ever . Now , its leaders talk exclusinely about their plans .
Margaret Thatcher is still a target , so are some members of the British Royal family , while attacks on British forces in continental Europe will continue . Peace is out , says a spokesman , there is nothing to be gained from a ceasefire .
By Derek Dunne .
First published in 'NOW' magazine , volume 1 , No. 4 , October 1989 , pages 5 and 6 .
Re-published here in 10 parts .
( 8 of 10).
Regarding the internal discipline and past mistakes like the blunders which led to a series of accidental deaths last year , the IRA spokesperson was reluctant to be drawn . He said the position had already been publicly stated on internal disciplinary matters - ' We have no intention of going over that ground again ' , he said :
: " All mistakes are regrettable and all damage the IRA in various ways . It is impossible to quantify . "
Asked about how the armed struggle in the North was relevant to the large number of unemployed south of the Border , the IRA spokesperson said the IRA was engaged in armed struggle in the Six Counties and political struggle in the 32 Counties of Ireland .
He acknowledged that they face an uphill battle in trying to get across an understanding of what is happening north of the Border .......
(MORE LATER).
NORAID'S UNTOLD MILLIONS .......
Irish-Americans have long had complex and contradictory relations with Ireland and the 'Irish Question' . On Saint Patrick's Day , all the ambiguities are apparent .
This year (ie 1987) , on Saint Patrick's Day , the latest book by Irish writer , Jack Holland was published in New York , exploring the tangled web of links between Irish-Americans and the Irish in Ireland , the IRA and the Irish government .
' The American Connection ' describes the activities of leading Irish-American politicians , of romanticising writers and of gun-runners .
In this edited extract , the author tells how Noraid was set up and how it has resisted pressures to disclose all the sources and uses of its funds .
First published in 'MAGILL' magazine , April 1987 .
Re-published here in 31 parts .
(16 of 31).
On March 2 , 1974 , Henry Petersen , then Assistant U.S. Attorney General , wrote to the FBI : " As members of your staff are well aware , the Department of State together with the British Government have requested the Government of the United States to make all efforts to halt the shipment of weapons and explosives to Northern Ireland (sic) and punish those individuals who have violated our criminal statutes by engaging in such activities . I cannot express too strongly the seriousness of this situation . "
The authorities were still bent on proving that NORAID supplied money to the IRA directly , as well as being involved in the weapons-smuggling business ; in June 1972 , the U.S. Justice Department subpoenaed five New York members of NORAID to appear before a Grand Jury sitting in Fort Worth , Texas , to investigate arms smuggling across the Mexican border .......
(MORE LATER).
