ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT

Greymouth Evening Star, 28 April 1938, Page 7

ANGLO-IRISH AGREEMENT

CHEERS IN COMMONS S LEADERS’ COMMENTS «; [BRITISH OFFICIAL WIBELESS.] RUGBY, April 26. Both Mr. Chamberlain and Mr. Mai- J), cclm MacDonald were warmly cheercd in the House of Commons on their ■ first appearance after the signature of 1 the British —Eire agreements. A’ Stating that the necessary legislation would shortly be introduced, Mr. / Chamberlain said the United Kingdom •> • Government believed the agreements would lead to a closer friendship and -r co-operation between the peoples and 'Y Governments of the two countries. ’ * Mr. de Valera on reaching Eire is reported to have told reporters that he believed the agreements would prove advantageous to both countries, and that he confidently recommended them to the acceptance of the people 6f Eire. ‘ INDEPENDENCE AIM. (Recd. April 28, 11.30 a.m. LONDON, April 27. Mr. De Valera, in the Daily, said: .- f It is unnecessary for me to stress the importance of the Anglo-Eire agree- 1. ment, from the viewpoint of Irish Sovereignty. I believe it is only a matter of time before somebody from i this Bench will be able to announce that Ireland has become a completely •*' independent Sovereign State. I would not be asking for approval, if I thought the agreement was an obstacle to it. Mr. De Valera added that if they looked at the map of Europe, they would see why a strong Britain was necessary, and not open to attack, with T Eire as a backdoor. There was a ? time when he, like many Irishmen, wished Ireland to be 500 miles farther out on the Atlantic. No one to-day 'Z wished the positions of the islands * changed. The present British Govern- • ment was the wisest he had known, X because it recognised the value of a free independent Ireland. c