Friday's papers were full of a statement which had been
issued at Belfast the night before by Captain Craig, Sir Edward Carson's able lieutenant. It was made in anticipation of the meeting of the Ulster Council which took place on Friday. The Ulster Council, it may be remembered, is the nucleus of the Provisional Government. The statement is the preamble to the constitution which Ulster means to adopt if she sees impending the forcible application to her of the Home Rule Bill. It lays down that Ulster cannot rightfully be forced into subjection to an Irish Nationalist Government, and declares that Ulstermen will face any extremity rather than submit to such a Government. Accordingly they undertake to resist the claims of the Dublin Parliament, and to carry out for themselves the powers hitherto exercised by the Imperial Government. They will not admit the right or recognize the authority of an Irish Parliament "within the Ulster area," or return any person within that area to serve as a member of that Parliament. They will, in fact, hold the Ulster area "in trust for the Constitution of the United Kingdom, and with the intent that the Ulster area shall continue an integral portion thereof." They will maintain and enforce all statute or common law now in force in Ireland "other than the statute establishing the Home Rule Government." They will protect and assist all Judges, Magistrates, &c., acting under the authority of the King in discharge of their duties under the existing Constitution.
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