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.

By the twelfth Article of the Treaty of 1921 it was laid down that, if (as actually happened) “Northern Ireland ” elected to remain outside the jurisdiction of the Free State, a Com¬mission consisting of three persons—one to be appointed by the Government of the Irish Free State, one to be appointed by the Government of Northern Ireland, and one, who should be chairman, to be appointed by the British Government—should determine, ” in accordance with the wishes of the inhabitants, so far as may be compatible with economic and geographic conditions, the boundaries between Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland.” The boundary of Northern Ireland should be such as might be determined by such Commission.”

In May, 1924, arrangements were made by the British Government to set up this Boundaries Commission. Judge Feetham of the Supreme Court of South Africa was appointed Chairman, and the Free State Government selected Dr. MacNeill, Minister of Education, as its representative. The Northern Government, however, declared that it would have nothing to do with the Commission, and declined to send any representatives. As it persisted in this attitude, the British Government finally appointed Mr. Joseph R. Fisher, a British delegate, to represent the Northern Counties on the Commission.

During more than twelve months the committee continued its labours, and more than a thousand witnesses are said to have been examined by it. The meetings were private, nothing being communicated even to the Northern and the Southern Governments.