The Free-State Treaty

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 206, 15 August 1927, Page 5

The Free-State Treaty

Its Principal Value. IRISH PROBLEMS FOR IRIBH TO TO SOLVE LORD BIRKENHEAD ON PRESENT PROBLEM. IBy Cable —Press A««n. — Copyrlfht.l (Received 15. 120 p.m.) London, August 14. Interviewed by the “Daily Mail’f regarding the Irish situation. Lord Birkhenhead said: “The problem is one primarily for solution by the common sense of people and the legislators of Southern Ireland. The principal value of the treaty is that Irish problems should be solved bv Irishmen for Irishmen. It is all to the good that the de Valeraites have decided to sit in Dail. No doubt some explanation win be forthcoming as to the ethical process of reasoning which enabled men of profound piety to take the oath, in the name of God. which they said they did not intend to keep. A much more important matter is Captain Redmond’s expression of hope that the British Government might be disnosed to consider, and perhaps accept, a modification of the oath. “In my colleague’s absence I speak only for myself, but I sav explicitly that I drafted the existing formula, and I would never have signed the treaty if it had not contained this clause. lam confident that none of mv fellow negotiators would have signed if there had been no agreement on this point. Nothing in the world would induce me to whittle it down or allow its substance to be impaired. “It is necessary also to make another matter plain. The oath is framed in consonance with the whole Imperial conception under which a number of self-governing communities profess to accept loyalty to the Monarch ” —(Sydney “Sun’ 1 , cable.)

An overnight cable stated: Captain Redmond, leader of the National party in the Dail, after a meeting of the party, denied dissensions and declared that a unanimous decision was reached which will be revealed only after the debate on Tuesday. It is the general opinion that the fate of the Cosgrave Cabinet is in Captain Redmond’s hands, and there is a growing belief that he and his party will not ally themselves wiili the Labourites or de Valerians. The latest Dublin' telegrams mention the possibility of the National party not voting, which, in the event of an even vote, with the possible aid of the Speaker's casting vote, woull decide the issue.