PRIVY COUNCIL APPEAL

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 11

PRIVY COUNCIL APPEAL

INCOMPATIBLE- WITH STATUS

ANOMALY IN IRELAND

LONDON, 6th May

"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. Cosgravc in a speech at the Government. Party's annual convention in Dublin.

"Tho main question outstanding be.tweon us and Britain is that of ■ the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, and appeals to that body from our Supremo Court. Their continuance is incompatible *witli our status and. an insult to our dignity and our sonse of fair play. • ' 'In the interests of both countries and their better friendship this appeal must disappear, and that soon." The Free State, said President Cosgrave, possessed not only tho right but the capacity to govern.itself;

In December it was announced in the Dai! that' a Bill would /be introduced to abolish the 'tight of appeal to tho 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 tho .British Government that questions d±" judicial appeals should be- settled in accordance with the wishes of tho part of tho 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. •