ULSTER'S FUTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 123, 26 May 1932, Page 7

ULSTER'S FUTURE.

OATH BILL SEQUEL. Northern Ireland May Return to House of Commons Rule. GOVERNMENT FORCED ON IT. (United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, May 25. Ulster's future constitutional position may be dramatically affected if the Free State Senate passes the Oath Bill, says the "News-Chron-icle's" Belfast correspondent. An Irish authority on international law asserts that if the bill is passed the Parliament of Northern Ireland may cease to exist and Ulster will return to direct control by the British House of Commons. Even since the Treaty was signed, it was pointed out, the Ulster Unionists have held that self-government had been forced on them, and if the Free State Oath Bill is passed the Ulster Government may take the view that the agreement which brought both Governments into existence had been broken, freeing them from its obligations. This would end de Valera's hope for a united Ireland.

OATH REMOVAL BILL.

Debate in Free State Senate Opened. STRONG OPPOSITION. (Received 1 p.m.) DUBLIN, May 25. The Irish Senate was crowded when President Eamonn de Valera submitted his Oath Removal Bill. Mr. James Douglas said tho President could have based his negotiations on a resolution favouring the abolition of the oath instead of choosing a method which injured trade and caused uncertainty. Membership of the. British Commonwealth of Nations was a safeguard for political freedom. Mr. Sean Mcllroy, who escaped with Mr. de Valera from Lincoln gaol some years ago, denounced the bill as an act of political piracy whose authors wanted to scuttle, the ship of State. Tho debate was adjourned until June