BRITISH REPLY TO FREE STATE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20505, 26 March 1932, Page 15

BRITISH REPLY TO FREE STATE.

THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.

STATEMENT BY MR J. H. THOMAS (BRITISH OmciAl, WIBELMS.) BTJGBY, March 23. The newspapers state that Cabinet considered the terms of the reply made in Parliament by Mr Thomas to a question relating to the communication received yesterday from the Free State Government. Answering the question, Mr Thomas said:—

"I was officially informed yesterday by the High Commissioner for the Irish Free State (Mr J. W. Dulanty) that in the opinion of his Government the Oath of Allegiance was not mandatory in the treaty, and that the Irish Free State had an absolute right to modify the constitution as the people desired. It is manifest that the oath is an integral part of the treaty made ten years ago between the two countries, and hitherto honourably observed by both sides. We are addressing to his Majesty's Government in the Irish Free State a communication which will make our standpoint clear beyond the possibility of doubt. Land Annuities. "With regard to the land annuities we have received no official communication from the Irish Free State Government, but from the statement reported to have been made yesterday by Mr de Valera, in the Free State Senate, wo understand that the Free State Government proposes to retain the Irish land annuities. These annuities are payments which the tenants of purchased estates make in order to repay the sums lent them to buy their land. The Irish Free State Government is bound by the. most formal and explicit undertaking to continue to pay these land annuities to the National Debt Commissioners, and failure to do so would be a manifest violation of an engagement which is binding in law and in honour on the Iriah Free State, whatever Administration may be in power, in exactly the same way as the treaty itself is binding on both countries."

Answering further questions Mr Thomas said the terms of the reply to the Irish Free State would be published at an appropriate moment. Labour Members Protest. Replying to Mr G. Buchanan (Labour) Mr Thomas said the annuities were a bargain between the two peoples. "We intend that agreement to stand." Mr Buchanan: Is that a declaration of war? ' General protests caused an interruption, Mr Buchanan repeatedly shouting, "It".is a declaration of war." Mr J. Maxton (Labour) urged that the House should have an opportunity to discuss the" matter before, not after, the final policy was decided upon. "We are negotiating for the revision. of treaties and' reductions of debts with almost every country. Won't the Irish peoplo be treated at least as well as foreigners t" Mr Thomas said the Free State wanted to repudiate a bargain, but the British Government considered that it could only be altered by the consent of both sides. The House thus could have no doubt where the Government stood. •Mr D. Kirkwood (Labour): It .is sheer war. Mr de Valera'a Viewpoint.

"The Times" Dublin correspondent says Mr E. de Valera bases his oath policy, on, the contention : that;; the treaty, clause prescribing the form of the words "If©, be used by members of the Free State Parliament does not make the taking of any oath obligatory whereas the corresponding article in the constitution does. As regards the land annuities he says certain lawyers hare advised him that the British Government has no legal right to them. He contends that the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, allowed the Northern Government to retain the land' annuities, and that the •Free State has an equal right to their retention. ' Furthermore, he alleges that the ultimate financial agreement of 1926 between the British and Free State Governments was never ratified, and therefore has no legal force. ORIGIN OF THE OATH. MR DUGGAN PERSISTS. LONDON, March 23. Despite Mr de Valera's denial, Mr E. J. Duggan (who was Parliamentary Secretary to Mr W. T. Cosgrave) reiterates that the oath embodied in the treaty is the oath "dictated by Mr de Valera at Dublin and presented by us in London, recognising the King as the head of the associated States." Mr J. H. Thomas (Dominions' Secretary) spent an hour this morning with his Majesty the King, presumably concerning the Irish situation, and then returned to Downing Street whilo Cabinet was considering Mr de Valera s attitude.'.. ' ' _■> M Mr Thomas later told the House of Commons that the Government was sending, a communication, to the Free State Government niaking clear beyond the possibility of doubt Great Britian's viewpoint of the oath question, and pointing out ths[t the Free State's failure to pay the land annuities would be a manifest violation of the agreement, which was binding in law and honour whatever administration may be in power, in the Fre> State.