FAILURE OF IRISH CONVERSATIONS

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 52, Issue 205, 11 June 1932, Page 5

FAILURE OF IRISH CONVERSATIONS

DE VALERA REMAINS IMMOVABLE. INSISTENCE ON RIGHT TO ABOLISH OATH. DISCUSSIONS KNOWN TO BE DOOMED FROM THE OUTSET. BRITAIN'S OFFER OF TRIBUNAL ON ANNUITIES ISSUE. , -' - -—— (United Press Association—Copyright). (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. The conference to-day in connection with the Irish Treaty and oath ended in a deadlock. The conference, which was attended by the Prime Minister (Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald), was a continuation of the conversations Mr J! H. Thomas (Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs) and Lord Hailsham (Secretary of State for War) had in Dublin last Tuesday with Mr Eamon de Valera (President of the Dail Erenow) and Mr James Geoghegan (Free State Minister of Justice). "The Bun" learns that the breakdown was due to Mr de Valera's insistence on the right to abolish the oath, and Britain's insistence that this would violate the Treaty. The discussions, which never progressed beyond this point, were doomed from the outset. When it was abundantly clear that they were poles apart, Britain actually hinted at willingness to submit the question of annuities to an Empire Tribunal. The question was never seriously discussed, because the deadlock over the oath rendered the position hopeless. Meanwhile, the position regarding the Empire Conference is complicated. It is understood that Mr Bennett's pressure was primarily responsible for the Anglo-Irish meeting. Mr Bennett hoped that the conversations would clear the atmosphere.

A DRAMATIC CLIMAX. MR THOMAS' FINAL PLEADING. TEN MINUTES IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE. (Received This Day, 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. Crowds assembled at Whitehall, manv waving Irish flags, and vociferously cheered Mr de Valera when he was motoring to the train, where there was a dramatic climax. Mr J. H. Thomas, sitting in a compartment facing Mr de Valera, was seen to be leaning across the table, talking and shaking his forefinger in a characteristic gesture when pleading with Mr de Valera for 10 minutes. Mr de Valera leant back, without speaking, obviously immovable. The guard's shrill whistle terminated the drama. '■■■..■ Mr Thomas rose, shook hands and stepped on to the platform, 'where he removed his. hat and wiped his brow with a gesture, of despair. . , FAILURE CAUSES NO SURPRISE. GOOD HUMOUR PREVAILS. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. In view of the attitude adopted by Mr de Valera and his Ministers on the Abolition of the Oath, of Allegiance Brtl now before the Irish Free State Legislature, the failure of the conference caused very little surprise in political circles here. Mr Thomas told Press representatives that the conference had passed off quietly, and the questions before them were discussed with excellent good humour.—British Official Wireless.

LONG CONVERSATIONS HELD. MR DE VALERA CHANGES PLAN. (Received This Day, 8.35 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. The conference between the Irish and British Ministers, has concluded, no agreement being reached. The conversations commenced at 11.30 and were adjourned at 1.20, being resumed after luncheon, There is not the slightest indication of the line taken at the discussions, as nobody emerged from the building at lunch time, but there was some change of plans because previously it was Mr de Valera's intention to devote #he afternoon to sightseeing. RECEPTION OF DE VALERA. CHEERS AND HOOTING. LONDON. June 10. Cheers by a large crowd, mingled with some * hooting, greeted Mr de Valera and his party on their arrival at Euston Station, where they were met by "Mr J. H. Thomas (Secretary for the Dominions), and Mr Malcolm MacDonald (Under-Secretary). Afterwards they all had breakfast together. Exceptional precautions were taken to guard the sleeping-car in which the party remained for some hours after their arrival, a large squad of railway police and Scotland Yard special detectives forming a cordon. AUDIENCE OF THE KING. PRIME MINISTER. AT PALACE. (Received This Day, 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, June 10. The Prime Minister, who is to leave for Faris and Lausanne to-morrow, drove to Buckingham Palace this evening at the conclusion of the Irish Conference, and had an audience of the King.—-British 'Official Wireless.