DESIRE FOR UNITY

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 107, 15 February 1935, Page 5

DESIRE FOR UNITY

BRITAIN AND IRELAND / SINGLE-MINDED IN ONE AIM. PERMANENT RECONCILIATION. ' . ■' , v . ■ •»-> EXTENSION OF AGREEMENT. TWO FUNDAMENTALS [NAMED. {United Press Association-Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) LONDON, February 13. In the Dail, Eamann de Valera referred to the coal and cattle arrangement recently made between the Irish Free State and the United Kingdom. He indicated that he would welcome its iextension. ' • Speakingj at the Constitutional Club, London, Mr J. H. Thomas said that tiie British Government would also welcome extension of the arrangement of such mutual advantage to both countries. If this one economic barrier were broken down, how fervently we all hoped it might lead to permanent reconciliation. He assured, the Irish free State that-there were no hostilities, no bitterness, but a single-mind-ed desire to be,united, but the sanctity pf agreements and membership of the British Commonwealth must always be fundamental to any settlement of the Irish difficulty.—British Official :Tfireless.. > ' - = - . . i ————— CATTLE FOR COAL. ROOM FOR NEGOTIATION. LONDON, Feb. 13. Referring to the coal-cattle pact, Mr Eamonn de Valera admitted in the Bail Eireann that new representations had been ,made to Great Britain in view of the fact that she would gain considerably by the increased price of imported cattle if the penal charges remained. - Asked whether the duty of 5s a-ton pn British coal would continue, Mr de Valera, replied that it would not be wise to say that there would he any change. ( The “Daily Express” says thai, the Free State High Commissioner in London (Mr Dulanty) has been negotiating for some weeks to secure a reduction of the British duties on Irish cattle. If is believed that these would lead to further trade agreements, the largest aiming at an increased market for British plant- aiicf heavy machinery. . Mr J. H. Thomas (Dominion Secretary), when informed of Mr de Valera s statement, said that the door was still open. It is expected that Mr Thomas will make a further reference at a luncheon engagement to-aay. The “Daily Telegraph” says that certain private individuals have been at work behind the scenes.