MOST PEACEFUL LAND IN THE WORLD

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 131, 27 February 1937, Page 10

MOST PEACEFUL LAND IN THE WORLD

Opinion of Ireland To-day

FRIENDLY ATTITUDE TO

ENGLAND

Dominion Special Service

Auckland, February 26,

Ireland as the most peaceful country in the world to live in may sound paradoxical, yet this opinion was formed by the Rev. Father T. Curran, one of four Roman Catholic priests who are returning to Australia by the Monterey after spending a vacation in Ireland.

Conditions had Improved out of all recognition since he was there seven years ago, said Father Curran, and the country hail reached a more settled state than had been known for a long time. To balance Hie economic scale upset by tlie loss of export trade in cattle to England national industries had been started, and in four years no fewer than 400 had been established. In the last two years tlie balance of trade with England had been improved by £4,000.000. A sure indication of the improved conditions was that there was now little emigration from tlie country. Tlie people to-day had a very friendly attitude toward tlie English, and Northern Ireland was gradually finding it to its advantage to coalesce, economically at least, with the Irish Free State. In the past summer there were more English visitors to the country than ever before.

During liis visit Father Curran had an interview in Dublin witli Mr. de Valera, who impressed him as ,a very callable and natural man. Mr. do Valera told him no attempt would be made to effect complete separation from Britain except by a free referendum among Hie people. Such a move was not on the horizon at present.