THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 47, 5 December 1929, Page 6

THE PRIVY COUNCIL.

ATTITUDE OF FREE STATE. DISCUSSION IN HOUSE OF LORDS (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON' December 4. In the House of Lords, Lord Danesfort called attention to a speech by -Mr E. Blvthe (Vice-President in the JDail Eireaun) on the subject of Irish appeals to the iPrivy Council' .and Mr Ramsav Mae Donald's attitude to it, which he declared was evasive and unsatisfactory. Lord Carson said that whenever an issue with the Free State had arisen Britain always yielded to blackmail. "Why should vou always pat the back and almost lick the boots of people who are always insulting you, your ' King, and even treaties? Like any honest Government, this has nothing to do with mv hostility toward the Free State; all that has gone and is •buried," he added. Lord Parmoor replied that the government intended to hold to the report of the Imperial Conference, of l&JoThis would guide it at the next conference. It was a serious thing to assume that the Free State was guilty of an illegality. . The Earl of Reading said that if Mr Blythe meant that appeals ta the Privy Council would be made ineffective, it would be a breach of honour. Lord Passfield (Secretary of State for the Dominions) said he was not disposed to sav that the Free State was capable of breaking the treaty or its contractual obligations. The discussion then dropped.