NO AGREEMENT.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20571, 13 June 1932, Page 9

NO AGREEMENT.

ANGLO-IRISH PARLEY.

LONDON CONVERSATIONS.

BREAKDOWN OVER OATH ABOLITION.

(.TISITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—XLICT*IC TEtSGRATH— COFYBIGHT.) LONDON, June 10. The Anglo-Irish conversations . Lave concluded, no agreement being reached. The conversations commenced at 11.30. ■were adjourned at 1.20, and resumed after lunch. There is not the slightest indication given of tlie line taken in the discussions. Is'obodj emerged from the building at lunch time, but there was some change of plans, because it was previously Mr E. de Valera's intention to devote the afternoon to sightseeing. The "Sun-Herald" Cable Agency learns that the breakdown was dne to Mr de Valera's insistence on the right to abolish the Oath, and Great Britain'* insistence that it would be a violation of the Treaty. The discussions, which never progressed beyond this point, were doomed from the outset, when it was abundantly clear that the delegates were poles apart in their points of view. Great Britain actually hinted, at her willingness to submit the question of the land annuities to an Empire Tribunal, but the question was never seriously discussed, because the Oath deadlock rendered the position hopeless. Position at Ottawa. Meanwhile the Ottawa position is complicated. It is understood that Mr R. B. Bennett's pressure was primarily responsible for the Anglo-Irish meeting. Mr Bennett hoped that the conversations would clear the atmosphere. Crowds at Whitehall, many waving Irish flags, vociferously cheered Mr de Valera when he was motoring to cateli his train, where there was a dramatic climax. Mr J. H. Thomas (Dominions . Secretary), sitting in the compartment! facing Mr de was seen leasing across the table talking and shaking his forefinger, a characteristic gesture, when pleading with Mr de Valera. For ten minntes Mr de Valera silently leant back without speaking, obviously immovable. The guard's shrill whistle terminated the drama. Mr Thomas rose, shook hands, and stepped on to the platform, where he removed his hat and wiped his brow with a gesture of despair. In view of the attitude adopted by Mr de Valera and his Ministers on the Oath of Allegiance Bill now before the Free State Legislature, the failure of tho conference caused very little enrprise in political circles here. Mr Thomas told the Press that the conference had passed off quietly, and tie questions before them were disenssed with excellent good humour.

DISAGREEMENT AT ALL POINTS.

COMMENT IN LONDON.

(Received June 12th, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Juna 11. Mr Eamon de Valera (President of the Irish Free State Executive Council) while boarding the mail boat at Liverpool, refused to make a statement be-, yond saying that he had enjoyed himself. He added: One always does enjoy a little trip like this. The political contributor of the "Daily Telegraph" says the Irish spokesman had the lion's share of the discussion and had prepared an elaborate brief, the reading of which occupied most or the morning session, • Tk» statement contained no hint at a compromise dr concession. The position as regards the Ottawa Conference remains exactly the Bune. The British Government had no alternative but to refuse to enter into further agreements with the Irish Free State, thus there can be no agreement regarding preferences. Southern Ireland consequently is placed at a aerious disadvantage at Ottawa compared with the other Dominions. Disagreement was extended at all points to the Oath o£ Allegiance, land annuities, and the partition of Ireland. The political correspondent of the "Morning Post" describes the Downing Street conference as one of the greatert hoaxes to which the British-Govern-ment has been subjected in recent years. It is understood that the utmost length to which the British Government was prepared to go was the submission of any legal documents about which there were differences in respect of interpretation to independent arbitration. •'The Times" says there can be no change in the attitude of the British Government, wjiile Mr de Valera maintains his present standpoint.

MR DE VALERA.

STATEMENT TO THE DAIL EXPECTED.

(Received June 12th, 11.30 p.m.) LONDON, Jane 12. Mr de Valera is expected to stake a statement in the Dail, jprobaMy on Tuesday.