EIRE OPPOSES BRITISH CALL UP OF IRISHMEN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22821, 16 December 1948, Page 5

EIRE OPPOSES BRITISH CALL UP OF IRISHMEN

(11 a.m.) DUBLIN. Dec. 15. The Prime Minister. Mr. John Costello, replying to an -Opposition member. told the Dail that Eire had protested against Irishmen being called up for service in the British armed forces.

Mr. Costello said the British Government hitherto had regarded Irish citizens as British subjects and Irishmen resident in Britain had been liable since 1939 to conscription as British subjects. The position now was that under the National Service Act Irishmen between the ages of 18 and 26 who had been resident in Britain for not less than two years might be called up for service in the British armed forces.

Tiie Prime Minister pointed out that a new situation would arise on January 1 when the British Nationality Act came into force. Irish citizens under that Act would no longer be British subjects under the law of Britain. Mr. Costello said he did not supposa that the British Government would in future seek to impose compulsory military obligations on Irish citizens resident in Britain, other than those who had voluntarily chosen the status of British subjects or United Kingdom citizenship under the new Act. Any Irishman called up who did not wish to serve in the British forces could return to Ireland.