IRISH QUESTION

Grey River Argus, 4 May 1932, Page 5

IRISH QUESTION

Citizenship Rights DEPRIVATION UNLIKELY. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) LONDON, May 2. “The assumption that a declaration of independence would result in Irish residents in England losing /their citizenship, rests on a misunderstanding,” declares .Professor Berriedale Keith, in an article in the “Guardian.” “The separation of part of the Empire by revolutionary action is not unprecedented,” he says. “The decisions of British Courts show clearly that a declaration of independence will not affect British subjects, including Irishmen, unless the independence is recognised by the Crown. If recognised, the Courts would probably hold that British subjects resident in the Free State lost their British nationality, but could not maintain that Irish citizens in England and the Dominions forfeited the nationality conferred by British legislation, which the Free State cannot alter. Parliament alone can deprive persons resident in Britain of British nationality, but it cannot seriously bo supposed that Parliament will do so even if Mr De Valera broke the treaty. Irish citizens remaining in the Free State would simply become aliens, pure and simple, and subject to all the disabilities thereof.”

FURTHER OATH REMOVAL BILL. (Aur. ft N.Z. Cable Assn). (Received May 3 at 10.10 p.m.) ‘ LONDON, May 3. President De Valera is shortly introducing legislation in the Dail Eirfeann repealing the enactment under which officers employed hy local authorities are required to subscribe to a declaration of allegiance to the Constitution.