EIRE A REPUBLIC

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 163, 12 July 1945, Page 5

EIRE A REPUBLIC

DE VALERA SURPRISE

"New Constitution Came Into

Operation In 1937" Rec. 11 a.m. DUBLIN, July 11. "Eire is a republic," said the Prime Minister, Mr. de Valera, in the Dail, replying to a question asked by Mr. James Dillon, a former member of the Cosgrave party, who declared that nobody seemed to know what Eire was.

"That's the greatest news -I have heard for a long time." said Mr. Dillon, after Mr. de Valera had answered his question. "Now we know where we are, and San Francisco knows. Can you tell me when this happened?"

"The new Constitution and change of name from Irish Free State," Mr. de Valera said, "came into operation in 1937, and though the Constitution did not include the word 'republic' it provided all the machinery for a republic. There was no mention of the King, and the office of GovernorGeneral was abolished. A separate Act dealing with external affairs made it clear that Eire had no intention of severing itself from the British Commonwealth."

Mr. Dillon was flabbergasted for a second when Mr. de Valera said that Eire was a republic, states the Daily Express correspondent in Dublin. Mr. Dillon then sprang to his feet and said: "It is remarkable to have an announcement of this kind made so casually." During discussion later on a bill to amend the Act which gave Mr. de Valera wartime emergency powers, the correspondent adds, Mr. Dillon said: "Is it not a queer thing that on the first day of this new-born republic we are fighting to get back our liberties? It is a queer augury for a new-born republic."

The Daily Mail correspondent in Dublin says Mr. de Valera caused surprise in the Dail when he declared that. Eire was a republic. This was the first time he had made such a clear-cut statement on the constitutional position. Previously, when asked whether Eire was a republic or a member of the British Commonwealth, he always replied that Eire was a sovereign independent State and had. associations with Britain and the Commonwealth for certain external purposes.