IRELAND’S DIFFICULTIES

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 December 1925, Page 5

IRELAND’S DIFFICULTIES

DE VALERA TAKES ADVANTAGE.

STRIFE-STIRRING TACTICS.

(Reuter.)

LONDON, December 1. ■ In a speech at Limerick, De Valera declared that the boundary crisis was another instance of British perfidy, but if the Free State Cabinet were firm and stood up ±o England, tney would have a united people to combat Britain’s designs. De .Valera read letters from fl«* late Mr Arthur . Griffith, stating that during the negotiations 'he repeatedly expressed the view that rile English Crown would never be recognised unless the essential unity of Ireland were guaranteed. Mr Lloyd George gave that assurance, and stated that he would resign if Ulster proved unreasonable.

De Valera added that Ireland owed England nothing financially. Accord'ng to the newspapers, the ■position of the Irish Free State trovr ern'ment is critical, owing to the Labour Party attacking it on the ground that the wages offered by the German contractors for the Shannon hydro electric scheme are inadequate, and there is a danger of secession of a number of the Government’s supporters in the Dail to the Republican ranks.

It is understood thai; the situation as regards the boundary problem has become much more acute, as the r-e--suit of London conversations. President Cosgrave has gone hurriedly from Dublin to London..

A SIR WALTER WANTED.

LONDON, December 1

( Mr. Baldwin, speaking at the Royal Scottish Corporation’s dinner said that Englishmen admire Scots in maintaining a standard of plain living and high thinking. The English took the Scots to their hearts as blood-brothers, because that genius, Sir Walter Scott, interpreted to the neighbouring Kingdom Scottish heroes and martyrs. If there had .been a Walter Scott in Ireland, there would have been no boundary commission,;. .