IRISH REPUBLIC?

Gisborne Times, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 12603, 12 July 1935, Page 5

IRISH REPUBLIC?

DE VALERA’S VIEWS ATTACKED REFERENCE TO “FOREIGN ‘ ICING” RESENTED * BRTTATN WILL OPPOSE EVERY STEP: s’ _ (U.P.A. by Elec. Tel. Copyrlizht) (Received July 11, 8.40 p.m.> LONDON, July 11. In the House of Commons, the Rt. lion. J. IT. Thomas, Minister of the Dominions, during the debate on Irish affairs, said he had been .asked to advise the House of the difference between the Free State and a Republic. Air De Valera, had defined the difference in a recent speech, when he alluded to His Majesty as a “foreign king.” Mr Thomas added that he personally summarised Air De Valera’s views as follows: “First; we must have a republic, but for certain external affairs we would be prepared to recognise your King.” “My own answer*’, sa'd Air Thomas, “was that I did not believe any 'Government in Britain would dare to suggest that the constitutional head should be used for one purpose and be non-existenut for others.' The people of Britain would not tolerate that.” The Alinister said he did not hesitate to say that the Government would take every stop it could to prevent Southern Ireland going trem the' British commonwealth, however much it might be provoked. .MINISTER DID NOT AIEAN FORCE ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S EXPLANATION “CHAINS OF COAIMON INTEREST” (U.P.A. hv Elec/'Tet (Received July 11, 9.30 p.m.) LONDON, July 11. The Attorney-General, Sir Thomas Inskip, apparently alarmed by Mr Thomas’s statement in the course ot the Irish debate, that the Government would take every -step it’ c-oukl to prevent Southern Ireland going from the British commonwealth, hastened to explain that what Mr Thomas had in mind was not the “use o: weapon-:, of tcrce hut chains of common interest and old associa—ticn”, which would draw the countries o’oser together. The Alinister added that the suggestion that Air De Valera can proclaim hi,’ republic, and /still roma n within f.he British commonwealth of nations, is cue which really closes the door to any accommodation. Britain will never co-eperate with Air Do Valera in making foreigners of Irishmen.