IRISH REPUBLIC

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1937, Page 5

IRISH REPUBLIC

NEW CONSTITUTION

People to Decide

AT EARLY ELECTION.

(Aus & N.Z, Cable Assn.) (Received May 2, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The draft has been published of the new Constitution for Ireland. It provides that the name Irish Free State shall be changed to Eire, a, Gaelic word meaning Ireland'.

The. draft describes it as “a sover. eign independent, democratic State with all powers coming under God from the people.” The President who replaces the Gov-eiiior-Generai, will be elected for seven years by universal vote. He will take precedence over all others and ■will sit in the Dail or Senate.

The President will appoint a Prime Minister, who will be known as the Taoiseach (an Irish word having the significance of Duco or Fuhrer). He will also, summon and dissolve the Dail, sign all bills and' have supreme control of the defence forces. All officers will hold their commissions from him. The right, of appeal to the King is removed by the provision that the decision of the Supreme Court is final and conclusive. ’

Thc free practice of religion is. guar anteed.

Divorce is absolutely excluded under he Constitution.

The draft ignores the British Commonwealth and does not mention the King. The electors' ratification will be sought at the general election, probably late in June.

The Constitution is framed for all Ireland, with provision for temporarily restricting the laws to the present Irish Free State territory. The second clause of the Constitution declares: —“The national territory consists of the whole of Ireland', its islands and its territorial seas, pending the re-integration of the national territory, without prejudice to the right of the and Government of Eire to exercise jurisdiction over it-

“The President of Ireland will have wide powers, but these will be for the safeguarding of the people’s rights,” declared Mr De „Valera, in a broadcast address from Dublin.

“The new Constitution will be the free . expression of the people of Ireland. Tt can be changed only by them. There still arc many injustices to be removed, including that of the partition of our country; the British occupation of our ports; and the exaction by Britain..of money, which we hold is not due; but these issues are now out. side of the Constitution, and they can be discussed oi> their merits."

ULSTER PREMIER’S VIEW.

ON ALL-IRELAND' CONSTITUTION.

(Received May 2, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. The “.Sunday Dispatch” says: Lord Craigavon, Ulster Premier, is expected to call on Mr Baldwin _ shortly, in order to discuss Ulster’s viewpoint in connection with Mr De Valera’s claim to an all-Ireland Constitution. It is thought, that Belfast and Britain can. not ignore Mr De Valera’s action in connection with this. It is anticipa e ( that, British law officers will consider the situations and aspects., regarding the Anglo-Irish treaty.