Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, JANUARY 20th., 1938. ANGLO-IRISH DEAL.

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 January 1938, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, JANUARY 20th., 1938. ANGLO-IRISH DEAL.

*TTHE importance and desirability of Anglo-Irish friendship cannot be too greatly stressed; therefore it is good news that this week’s London conference has strengthened mutual goodwill. Wisely, Air. De Valera has dropped the “partition” issue for the time being, and efforts are uoav being concentrated on trade agreements and defence. Irishmen have done much to establish Ihe Em-

pirn. and it is difficult to believe that there is any real desire on their part to weaken it. Mr. De Valera has previously announced that no Irish aid would be forthcoming to any nation attacking Britain, and he is showing his good faith by his present discussions. As for a trade pact, experience has proved that neither country can afford to be antagonistic to the other, especially Eire, which has no other market than Britain for its chief exports. It will be surprising, if as the result of the experts’ negotiations, trading arrangements between the two

coi.llll ries are not soon placed on a satisfactory footing.

In one respect, that of migrants,

Irish “exports” to Britain have increased considerably during recent years. A statement presented, last month, to the House of Commons showed that the figures of

passenger traffic from Free State ports to Great Britain, after allowing for persons known not to be migrating to the United Kingdom, were as follow: — 1934: 11,000 ; 1935 : 14,000 : 1936 : 24,000. It was added that the figures for the first four months of 1937 suggested that the increase shown in the. 1936 figures was continuing for 1937. The statement, declared that the object of the immigrants was to obtain work, and there was no evidence that they came to obtain, when unemployed, assistance on a more generous scale than in the Free State. On the contrary, many readily obtain employment in heavy unskilled work tor which an adequate supply of labour is not available in Britain. In some parts of Scotland, this Irish migration is not excessively popular, but in England, little or no feeling is aroused. It will be interesting to note

what effect on Irish domestic

politics, Mr. De Valera’s more friendly attitude to Britain will

have, lie is sure io he denouncer

by the Republicans, but. is likely to obtain additional support from

the moderates, weakening the Cosgrave Party. The new deal may

also influence the choice of the

first President, of Eire, under the new Constitution which came into force at. the end of last month. This is a post worth having. The holder will receive an annual allowance of £15.000. made up as follows: £5,000 as salary, £5.000 upkeep allowance, and £5,000 entertainment expenses. A free residence in Phoenix Park is also a perquisite of office. The Presidential election may take place in February or March. The Government candidate will be opposed by a Cosgrave party nominee, and Labour may also have a candidate. Eire Ministers are also to be paid more generously. The proposed scale is: Prime Minister, £3.000 —formerly £2.500. Deputy Premier. £2.500 —formerly £17,000.

Ministers, Speaker and AttorneyGeneral, £2,250— formerly £1,700. Ex-Presidents are to have a pension of £1.200, and cx-Ministers £3OO to £5OO according to the number of years’ service. These increases for Ministershave aroused vigorous protests from some of those they represent, especially among Civil servants, police force, and school teachers, all of whom have been refused salary increases. It is anticipated that the Labour Party in the Dail, which holds the balance of power, will oppose the additions. The internal political situation in Eire is full of possibilities. It may be that Mr. De Valera plans another

appeal to the electors, and that his effort to place Anglo-Irish relations on a good footing, is part of his campaign strategy.