Belfast " Spy" Experiences Ulster Methods
From Our Own Correspondent A never failing source of good copy for Orange orators for the past twenty years has been the scare story of " Papist infiltration "—or the less colourful peaceful penetration "—from the South into this haven of (Orange brand) " Civil and Religious liberty."
by official facts.
In Tyrone and Fermanagh, the two Border counties with Catholic majorities —where, according to Sir Basil Brooke and other Orange " authorities " in such matters, Protestant farmers were being stealthily bought out by subsidised Papists —show a decided decrease in the Catholic total.
In Tyrone the Catholic population of 73,683 in 1926 has fallen to 70,500: a decrease of 3,183.
In the case of Fermanagh there is a decrease of 2,259: Catholic population in 1926 was 32,455, latest figures are 30,196. Catholics still hold fairly substantial majorities over all others in these two counties.
Slight Increase in Co. Down The Catholic population in Co. Down shows an increase from 30.4 pet cent. of the entire population to 30.6 per cent. The figures are 64,539 out of a total of 210,687. The Catholic strength lies in South Down, especially in the Newry area, which is close to the Border.
The Catholic increase in this County can be attributed to their higher birth rate. Taking the county as a'whole there is an increase of less than one per cent. over the 1926 census, yet the number of census families has increased by nearly eight per cent.
IRISH MINISTER ADDRESSES QUEEN'S
The Eire Minister of Finance, Mr. Sean MacEntee, who is a Belfast man, on the invitation of the Economic Society of Queen's University, Belfast, addressed its members on the subject of " Finance in War Time." on Friday last. He had a great reception when Ile rose to speak and also at the close of his lecture.
" We must remember that in the twentieth century there is no such thing as a purely private fight between nations, so that even for neutrals Business as usual' was out of the question." The outbreak of a modern war would probably not again bring immediate chaos in the financial sphere, said Mr. MacEntee, because their technical skill and experience had shown them how to cope with such a situation.
But in the Europe of today, if war once started, not all the skill and ingenuity of man would suffice to roll back the tide of history and to put them economically, financially, and spiritually again in the position they held before the war began.
Replying to a vote of thanks Mr. MacEntce concluded by hoping that an opportunity would be given at some future date to a member of the Cabinet of Northern Ireland to address a similar assembly in the South.
The " Queen's " Tradition
It would be unwise to attach too much importance to this visit of the Eire Minister to the University. It has been ever thus at Queen's: the liberal tradition of the arts in undergraduate days has in most cases the bad habit of being eclipsed by the later associations following graduation. Still— one never can tell.