INSULT TO IRELAND

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 188, 7 May 1931, Page 9

INSULT TO IRELAND

Appeals to Privy Council

“MUST DISAPPEAR—SOON”

(“Times” Cables) (Rec. May 6, 8.15 p.m.)

London, May 6. “The growth of friendly relations between the Irish Free State and Britain depends on the complete elimination, in form as well as in substance, of any appearance of inequality,” declared President W. T. Cosgrave in a speech at 'the Government party’s annual convention in Dublin. “The main question outstanding between us and Britain is that of the judicial committee of the Privy Coun- . cil, and appeals to that body from our Supreme Court. Their continuance is incompatible with our status and an insult to our dignity and our sense of fair play. •Tn the interests of both countries anti their better friendship this ap- • peal must disappear, and that soon. The Free State, said President Cosgrave, possessed not only the right but the capacity to govern itself.

In December it was announced in the Dail that a Bill would be introduced to abolish the right of appeal to the Privy Council. The move .is in conformity with a course announced some time before, following on a resolution at the Imperial Conference of 1926. That conference, while it recommended no change in the method of Privy .Council appeals, recorded that it was the view of the British Government that questions of judicial appeals should be settled in accordance with the wishes of the part of the Empire primarily affected. Since all parts of the Empire were concerned, changes could only be made after general consultation and discussion. The Government of New Zealand announced at the time that it had no intention of making any change.