IRISH TREATY

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1932, Page 3

IRISH TREATY

Repeal Bill BRITISH OFFICIAL VIEW (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Apil 26. An important statement as to the position of the Irish Free State, was made in the JJommons, to-day, by Mr Thomas. Ho said that no further official communication had been received from tho Government of the Irish Free State, but there had been important developments. The Bill introduced in the Dail last week had been published, and examination of the test shewed it. was designed not merely to remove tho obligation now imposed on members of the Irish Free State Parliament to take the oat> »et out in the treaty, but to go fi It Is purported to repeal secti< . the Irish Free State Constitution Act, 1922, which provided that the treaty should have the force of law that any amendment to the constitution in any re spect repugnant to the treaty, would be void and inoperative It also pur ported by amendment to article 50 ot the constitution to enable the constitution to be amended . without the necessary regard to the terms of the treaty. The text of the Bill thus confirmed the general view of the situation expressed in the despatch of Mr

De Valera, on April 9, that what was actually raised by him was nothing than repudiation of the settle mont of 1921 as a whole.

Mr Thomas said he had already made it clear, on behalf of the Government, that thev looked upon the Blatter as a violation of the treaty. Tho Bill being discussed by the Free State Parliament confirmed that view.