EIRE TO-DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 210, 6 September 1938, Page 7

EIRE TO-DAY.

SPIRITUAL EMPIRE. Yearning to be Within British Commonwealth. PARTITION ONLY OBSTACLE. United Press Association.—Copyright. SYDNEY, September 5. During.a discussion on the status of Ireland in the Empire at to-day's session of the British Commonwealth Relations Conference it was stated frankly that whatever the Eire Government may have said hitherto, she would be with Britain in the event of war. It was pointed out that Eire was a great spiritual Empire with its peoples in all parts of the world, and was yearning to be on the side of the British Commonwealth. Speakers made it clear that • Irish opinion was as strongly opposed to dictatorships as was British opinion. One delegate said Eire was now a satisfied Power, except for the question of partition, and delegates generally agreed that a solution of the partition problem, was desirable in the interests of the British Commonwealth. The conference . listened with keen interest to a discussion "on Australian problems, including the white Australia policy, migration" "and the mandated territories. Mr. James Dillon, ' deputy-leader of the Cosgrave party in the Eire Parliament, in a broadcast address to-night, said an endeavour was being made in Ireland to-day to forget appeals to passion and prejudice and to substitute for them political argument addressed to people's reason rather than to their emotions. Ireland had happily settled her outstanding differences with Britain, said Mr. Dillon, but there remained the problem of a united Ireland, which, if brought about, would be a great force for liberty and decency in the world. Mr. Dillon added that there were no class distinctions in Ireland, and the first charge on the national income was a minimum livelihood for every citizen. Machinery to give effect to this ideal was at present in the making. A message was read at the conference from the King acknowledging the conference's message of loyalty, and expressing His Majesty's best wishes for its success in dealing with' common problems affecting the Empire.

RACIAL PURITY.

' Problems of the Empire Discussed. ( WHITE AUSTRALIA POLICY. (Received 12 noon.) SYDNEY, this day. Discussing the White Australia policy at the British* Commonwealth Relations Conference, there was general agreement that the policy was based on economic and not on racial or biological prejudices. It was essentially & national and not a political policy. On behalf of Canada it was stated that there were definite racial problems as between the people of purely British stock and the French-Canadians. Only 50 per cent of the population of Canadawas of British descent, and the tendency was for that population to decline. From the economic point of view the delegates were told frankly that Canada was not so dependent upon Britain as were some other Dominions. Trafte with the United States was actually more important to Canada than her trade with Britain. Upon the question of Canada's attitude in the event of war, it was stated that it would be difficult to persuade French-Canadians to take part in any conflict against a Roman Catholic enemy country or to endoree any alliance with Russia.

Nevertheless, Canada was developing an air force as a strong measure of defence.

The decision that the conference should be held in camera was closely followed. At the end of the sessions Dr. G. V. Portus acted aa conference spokesman.