EIRE CALLS ON U.K. TO STOP MEDDLING IN IRELAND

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22947, 16 May 1949, Page 5

EIRE CALLS ON U.K. TO STOP MEDDLING IN IRELAND

{II a.m.) DUBLIN, May 15. One hundred thousand people demonstrated on Friday night as a protest against the Ireland Bill which is before the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister, Mr. J. Costello, in a Eire-wide broadcast, said: “We can, without firing a shot, exercise such power behind a well organised movement as well as bring partition to an end.

“Britain is sabotaging her own defensive system by her policy. Every British Minister knows the grave wrong which has- been done, but they have not the courage to face up to the privileged section of Northern Ireland.” Eire’s Foreign Relations Minister, Mr. Sean Mcßride, said that Britain had “struck an unnecessary and destructive blow at a constructive approach to the solution of partition. Our message to the British Government is to cease interference in the affairs 6f Ireland.”

Appealing for discipline, Mr. McBride said that indiscipline would play into the hands of Britain and enable her to pretend that the troops occupying the six counties were to protect the Unionist minority. The Opposition leader, Mr. de Valera said that if Britain were wise she would halt and seek concord and peace with Ireland. He said that men of goodwill could make a settlement acceptable to both parties.