PEACE URGENT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 239, 8 October 1932, Page 9

PEACE URGENT.

IRELAND'S PLIGHT.

Instant Settlement Essential

To Save Free State. TARIFF TRUCE NECESSARY. * (" Times " Cables.) (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON", October 7. The Dublin correspondent of "The Times" says the need for immediate peace between Britain and the Irish Free State is urgent. Cattlemen state that the Free State's export bounty of 12J per cent has not assisted trade, which is slacker than it was last week.

British buyers have found new sources of supply and are not likely readily to return to the Free State.

Something may be saved from the w.reck, says the correspondent, if there is an early settlement of the dispute, but a tariff truce is necessary to enable the Irish farmers to capture the British Christmas trade.

Mr. J. 11. Thomas, in a speech at Newport, referring to the negotiations between Sritain and the Irish Free State, said that behind the financial question? lay the maintenance of treaty obligations and the future rela'tionship of tha Free State with the British Commonwealth.

Britain desired peace, above all a peace that would be established and ratified on .the fundamental principle of the sanctity of agreements. Wider Issues Involved. Mr. Thomas added that no matter what is the outcome, common sense and common interest alike demanded that Britain and the Irish "Free State should be friends, not enemies. He expressed regret that the course of events had made it necessary to take action which had inflicted at least a temporary hardship. He added: "But although we meet to discuss the present financial differences, the British Government's representatives will be bound always to keep in mind that behind these financial questions, important as they are, and indeed bound up with them, are still wider issues. j

The "Daily Telegraph" Dublin correspondent says Mr. de Valera'e' sudden reversal of policy was due to the fear that the Free State would suffer a complete collapse owing to the effect of the British duties, which have brought the Irish export trades to a standstill.

Negotiations for a settlement have been devoted less to the legal problems of the land annuities than to the ability of Ireland to pay them. Irish negotiators believe the British negotiators are eager for a restoration of normal trade and will not be unsympathetic to the Free State's appeal on this point.