IRISH PROBLEMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 100, 29 April 1937, Page 6

IRISH PROBLEMS.

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGES,

Tlie next meeting of the Imperial Conference, which i< to take place in London just after the Coronation, will proxide its memliers with some awkward problems because of the changes which have been ma 1° in the Irish Free State, an<l also because of others which are contemplated. As is known, the Imperial Conference is the body wh:?n acts as a sort of clearing house between the several State members of the Commonwealth of Nations. In previous conferences certain principles were agreed to by mutual understanding for the purpose of securing smooth working of their relations with one another and of getting the fullest benefit > f trading facilities. It will be recalled that at the Ottawa Conference in I!).'{ - 2 the Free State broke away from some of these, and as a consequence has not been permitted to take advantage of certain trade privileges.

Feature of New Constitution. In the recent legislation in connection with the abdication of the late King and the accession of George VI. certain other departures were made, especially in relation to the functions of the King in regard to a Commonwealth State. In the Free State the King no longer has any place in the matter of inte'nal affairs, and he is to l>e used only for a limited number of external functions, and only s > long as he is recognised by the several Dominions as the symbol of their association. Moreover, there is to be no longer in the frir.h Free State a Governor-General to act as the King's representative. The Statute of Westminster, which is regarded as the Dominions' charter, is based upon agreement among the State member® in respect of a [>ol icy which is now far different from that of the Free State. Xnd in all this it must be remembered that president De Valera has definitely said that- in anything that has now been done or is likely to be done in the new Constitution there is. no tampering with the Free State's membership of the Commonwealth of Nations. He is in the position of being determined to remain within the Commonwealth, and presumably taking part in the work of the Imperial Conference, while unilaterally making radical changes in the conditions which have hitherto governed these relationships. The point which is interesting is what view the members of the conference will take in regard to these matters when they meet 111 London in Coronation week. Imperial Defence. There has been much talk in recent times regarding the importance of the Free State from the point of view of Imperial defence. Its geographical position makes it, in the opinion of strategists, highly vulnerable and an admirable base of attack against Britain in case of a European war. President De Valera has on several occasions said that under 710 circumstances would Free State territory be permitted to be used for an attack on Britain. It was to defend the Free State shores that the present Government, two years ago, formed the volunteer force. When this matter came up in the Dail some months ago 011 the vote for the Army and volunteers, the late Sir Osmond Esmonde. who was then a member of the House, said bluntly—and lie was an authority 0)1 military matters —that in case of an emergency neither the army nor the volunteers would be of any value and that Great Britain would at once assume control of the situation. The Treaty of provides specifically that pending an arrangement between the Irish and British Governments by which the Free State will undertake her own coastal defence, "the defence by sea of Great Britain and Ireland shall be undertaken by His Majesty's Imperial forces." Xo other arrangement lias so far been made, and so the work of major protection remains with the British forces. The Free State Government has not. of course, anv sea force.

Of what do its land forces consist? Tn the last Budget a sum of £1,529.987 was voted for tlie Army regular force* and the volunteers. The total of the officer rank is 59.5, and the regular rank and file number 5300, while 'provision is made for 5(500 volunteers. The entire sum provided for the air service in the present year is £4252. the personnel being 23 flying oflicers. four observers, three officers and cadets in training, and three gunners and pupil*. —H.C.