IRISH PROBLEM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 145, 31 March 1932, Page 5

IRISH PROBLEM.

NATURE OF THE OATH, ARGUED AS NON-MANDATORY. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 8.30 a.m.) LONDON, March 34. The British Government will answer De Valera's note, and the documents will be published simultaneously in Dublin and London. De Vaiera's party organ argues that the non-mandatory nature of the oath is proved by its different wording from the oaths in Canada and South Africa. The paper insists that the Irish Treaty was signed by the Irish delegates under outrageous threats, therefore it is not a free contract. PREPARING FOR SECESSION. POSITION OF CIVIL SERVANTS. LONDON, March 30. The "News-Chronicle" says the Free State Government is ascertaining the number of Irish Free State-born Civil servants, and is contemplating, the possibility of an Act of Separation, necessitating the prompt, regulansation of the position of Southern Irish State emplovees. . . Nevertheless, the official view in Britain is that the Free State, in the last report, will refuse to cut completely adrift from the Empire. If it did secede the Irish people in the Dominions and Colonies would automatically become aliens subject to special laws. REPLY TO BRITISH NfOTE. PRECIPITATE. ACTION OPPOSED. LONDON. March 30. The Dublin correspondent of "The Times" reports that the Executive Council of the Irish Free State considered at length the draft of its reply to the British Note. It is undesrtood that the replv closely follows Mr de Valera's recent statement. While the Executive is fairly solid in support- of Mr de Vaiera, some of his Fianna Fail supporters contend that he is acting precipitately, and oucdit to concentrate on the Budget, winch must be presented within a month. Mr de Vaiera is unbkdy to summon the Dail before April 20 unless a crisis arises, as he contends that he has a full mandate to remove the oath of allegiance and to withhold the land annuities. FREE FIGHT IN DUNGANNON. BLUNT .SPEECH RESENTED. LONDON, March 30. "The Empire will not shed tears if the Irish Free State secedes " said Sir Hush O'Neill, former Speaker of the Northern Ireland House of Commons, addressing Dungannon Orangemen. "It will become a pretty insignificant Republic, divorced from all world movements." . After the speech, crowds thronged the streets, windows were smashed, and sticks and fists were freely used The police charged the crowd with drawn batons.