In the Six Counties it was declared, both in the press and at public meetings, that ” Ulster ” would not yield an inch of her territory. On the other hand, the Nationalists of the South considered that the counties of Tyrone and Fermanagh, in both of which there were small Nationalist majorities, or at least considerable parts of them, should be ceded to the Free State. That, if this were done, ” Northern Ireland ” would be reduced to such small proportions that its successful adminis¬tration would become an economic impossibility was a consideration which did not move them. On November 19th (1925), the ” Morning Post,” a London daily paper, published an alleged forecast of the decision of the Boundary Commission.

Above: Map of Southern Ireland

Above: Map of Northern Ireland including the counties.

THE year 1924 was not marked by any notable event. There was, however, a good deal of legislation of various kinds. The new police force, called the Civic Guard, was organised. Arrangements were made regarding Land Purchase, Courts of Justice were set up. A system of Trade Protection was inaugurated, by the imposition of heavy import duties on certain classes of goods. The large army, which the unsettled state of the country had rendered it necessary to maintain, was now reduced in numbers.