EFFECT OF CHANGE IN EIRE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 69, Issue 160, 19 April 1949, Page 3

EFFECT OF CHANGE IN EIRE

CLOSER, CO-OPERATION

Now Independent State

* (N.Z.P.A.—Copyright!

(Bee, 10.40 a.m.) LONDON, April IS The Prime Minister of Eire, Mr John Costello, said to-day that although Eire had severed ties binding it to Great Britain and other « members of the Commonwealth, what had been done would ensure closer co-operation and more real friendship between Ireland, Great Britain and other Commonwealth countries than could ever have existed before..

The Government of Eire would be prepared to allow people in Ulster to retain their present powers of Government if powers of defence and foreign affairs were in the hands of an all-Ireland Government,” he said. Mr Costello added: “Eire now stands alone as a nation. We have no alliances, entanglements or ties with any country in the world, but we ask to be reckoned with now as an independent State t however small we are. Eire has, in international affairs, a tremendous influence by reason of the fact that so many_ of our people are scattered all over the world. Eire can ,be of great assistance in the advancement of world peace—if we can get rid Of partition. Until partition goes, we cannot give the full contribution which we could give in economic and military co-operation in defence of peace.”

DESIRE TO BE FRIENDLY NO FEELINGS OF HOSTILITY (Ree. 1.0.25) NEW YORK, April 18. If Ireland joined the North Atlantic Pact while partitioned, she would almost certainly face the threat of civil war in the event of a crisis, said (Sean Macßride, Foreign Minister of the new Republic of Ireland, in a speech at the Irish Fellowship Club banquet in Chicago. He added that no Irish Government could hope to obtain the necessary support .from the Irish people for such a commitment. It should clearly be understood that in refusing to sign the pact the Irish were in no way actuated by feelings of hostility toward Britain based, on past wrongs, Ireland was most anxious to develop genuine friendly relations with Britain, These were in the interests of both countries.

“If .partition were removed, it is conceivable that Ireland should ever constitute a source of embarrassment to Britain in time of war,” he said. “Indeed, the very contrary would be the case. A friendly and united Ireland in Britain’s western approaches is in the interest not merely of Britain and Ireland hut all countries concerned with the Security of the Atlantic area.”

DAY OF REJOICING INAUGURATION OF REPUBLIC (Rec. 10.30 mm.) DUBLIN, April 18. Huge crowds; turned out to-day / in Eire’s big centres —Dublin, .Cork, Waterfod, Limerick, Athlone and Galway—to celebrate the inauguration of the Republic.

Eire’s 3,000,000 population observed the day as one of special rejoicing, and paid tributes to those who died for Irish independence.

Observers believe that the scenes showed the Government’s decision to sever the last link with the British Crown had approval—a point on which there appeared to be some doubts until to-day. * ' Mr Costello said in message to the Irish Society in Montreal: “We have cut ourselves apart, but not adrift from the Commonwealth.’’ i Mr Costello added that Eire was, under a deep debt of gratitude to the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa for the help and understanding they had shown. Mr Costello promised that Eire would never forget this debt. *• A crowd of 50,000 in Dublin watched a military ceremonial attended by President O’Kelly and members of the Government which marked the formal inauguration of Eire as a RePU ln i tiiis ceremony the Tricolour was broken over the General Post Office headquarters of the Easter Rebellion ol 1916. • .: . Cheering crowds fell silent . and. stood bareheaded as the general salute was sounded and the National Anthem played. Afterwards the Bresident took the salute at the march past, which included tanks, guns and mobile units. Aircraft overhead dipped in salute, and the flag-waving crowd cheered wildly. •