IRISH LOYALISTS ANXIOUS

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21323, 16 November 1934, Page 11

IRISH LOYALISTS ANXIOUS

* Mr de Valera's Plans Feared DECLARATION OF REPUBLIC EXPECTED (UXITED PRESS ASSOCIATION —BY ELECT»IC TELEGBAPH —COPYBiaJIT.) (Received November 15, 7.20 p.m.) LONDON, November 14. Mr John Hartman Morgan, K.C., addressing the Irish Loyalists' Federation, said: "Mr de Valera, within a few months, will be able to declare the Free State an independent republic. The British Government is dangerously reticent. Mr J. H. Thomas repeats that the door is still open, although Mr de Valera is repeatedly slamming the door in his face. "Mr de Valera can and will slam the door finally, making the Free State a republic in law and fact. The Free State Legislature has abolished four of the most important clauses in the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which safeguarded the Imperial connexion. I am informed that German steamers are secretly unloading cargoes at Irish ports. I leave you to guess the contents." German Help Suggested Mr Morgan said Germany would be first to recognise an Irish republic. "We may find the Free State placed at Germany's disposal as an air base against England. Recognition by a foreign power is the only requirement to complete independence of the Free State. Great Britain could not interpret it as an unfriendly act because of her own continued silence." Lord Carson sent a message referring to the British Government's "cowardly inaction" regarding loyalists in the south of Ireland. He said the Free State was now degrading Irishmen by declaring that they were no longer subjects of the King. The meeting passed a resolution drawing the attention of the Government to the anxiety of loyal Irish throughout the Empire because of the Citizenship Bill. TMr Morgan is professor of constitutional law at University College, London. Among his books is "The New Irish Constitution," written in 1912.1 STORY OF GERMAN LANDINGS DENIED MR DE VALERA POSTPONES COMMENT (Received November 15, 11.20 p.m.) DUBLIN, November 15. Mr De Valera refused to comment on Mr Morgan's statement in London ur'il he had studied the full text. He added that he would be very glad to learn from Mr Morgan where the mysterious German cargoes were being landed. Mr C. A. Maguire, Attorney-Gen-eral, and Mr P. J. Ruttledge, Minister for Justice, declared that they had no knowledge of any such landings.

MATERIAL BENEFITS OF EMPIRE MEMBERSHIP (Received November 16, 12.35 a.m.) LONDON, November 15. The "Daily Telegrapu," commenting on Mr Morgan's speech, says: "The material benefits of the Imperial connexion are the real obstacle to the declaration of Irish independence. They are keeping the Free State within the Empire. Their force is not weakened by any use the Irish Parliament may make of the provisions of the Statute of Westminster."