DIVISION OF IRELAND ATTACKED BY DELEGATE AT EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY

Grey River Argus, 18 August 1949, Page 5

DIVISION OF IRELAND ATTACKED BY DELEGATE AT EUROPEAN ASSEMBLY

LONDON, Aug. 16. Mr William Norton, Ireland’s denut” Prime Minister, in the European Assemb'- attacked Britain’s claim in Ireland to have the six Northern counties, now forming part of the United Kingdom. He said: “In our relations with Britain for manv hundreds of years we have tasted violence and persecution in unrationed form. We ask Britain to cease these methods. Mr Norton said that Britain was occupying the ’’six counties against tne of the overwhelming majority of the Irish people. Britain functioned in that area as an occupying rower, he said. The leader of the Irish delegation stunned the assembly into an injposing silence, this being the first attack by one of tlm twelve members on another. When he sat down there was not a sound for a minute. Tension was broken by the acting President. M. Francois De Menthon ("France), wiio appealed to members to preserve “a tone of moderation and courtes” ”