IRISH FREE STATE

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 147, 7 June 1932, Page 7

IRISH FREE STATE

ATTITUDE AT OTTAWA DEALING WITH DIFFICULTIES. BRITISH MINISTERS TO INVESTIGATE. (United Press Association—By CableCopyright.) (Received 7, 11.35 a.m.) * Loudon, June 6. In the House oi Commons, the Kt. Hon. J. H. Thomas announced that in response to Mr de 5 alera’s invitation, he and Lord Hailsham were going to Dublin to-night for a preliminary discussion on the anticipated difficulty of relations at the Ottawa negotiations. Mr de Valera has agreed to resume the discussion in London on Iriday. The “Sun” says that Mr Thomas's announcement is a sequel to hurried soundings regarding the prospects of settling the Irish difficulty before the Ottawa Conference. The Government realised that it would be an impossible situation, endangering the success of the conference, if the Irish delegates attended and were unable to negotiate with Britain. Mr Thomas’s and Lord Hailsham’s visit was arranged at the shortest notice.

It remains to be seen how far the divergent views may be reconciled but hope is drawn from the fact that Mr de Valera himself undertook to come to London on Friday and give the British delegates an opportunity of conferring with their full Cabinet. Obviously, solid pressure has been exerted in Dublin, not the least being the Senate’s threat to amend the Oath Bill on Thursday by making it ineffective till Britain consents to removal of the oath. STATEMENT BY MR THOMAS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 7, 12.30 P-m.) Rugby, June 8. Mr J. H. Thomas’s statement regarding his conversation with Mr de Valera created much interest. Replying to questions, Mr Thomas said that tho Goverdnment had received an Intimation from Mr de Valera that he desired a consultation on the difficulties arising out of the statement repeatedly made in the House of Commons that further negotiations, either in London or at Ottawa, were impossible while the Free State adopted its present attitude. The Government had frequently stated they were not opposed to any discussion, and as Mr de Valera had intimated his desire for such a discussion, the Government felt —rightly, in his judgment—that they had no alternative but to accept this invitation. He added that this acceptance implied no departure by the Government from their declared policy. Lord Hailsham, who accompanies Mr Thomas to Dublin, is an ex-Lord Chancellor and Minister of War. QUESTIONS IN COMMONS. (Received 7, 12.55 p.m.) London, June 6. In the House of Commons Mr. Lansbury congratulated Mr. Thomas and Mr. de Valera on arriving at a commonsense arrangement. Mr. Craven Ellis: I hope that there is no compromise. (Hear, hears). Mr. Maxton: What agreement has been reached? Mr. Thomas: I have never used the word “agreement.” I have merely had an invitation through the Irish High Commissioner. Mi. de Valera desired a consultation. We have reiterated frequently that we are not opposed to any discussion. Mr. de Valera intimated a desire for a discussion, and we felt that we had no alternative but to accept. The spirit of compromise seems to have actuated both sides in arranging the Irish discussions. While it is true that Mr. de Valera declared that if Britain wanted to discuss the treaty her representatives would have to come to Dublin, he actually took the initiative and summoned Mr. Dulanty to Dublin to a conference on Friday, after which Mr. Dulanty saw Mr. Thomas on Saturday and conveyed the invitation, which Cabinet’s Irish subcommittee accepted on Sunday. Semi-official justification for the first talks being in Dublin stresses that the Fianna Fail’s dilema requires the whole of the Irish Cabinet being at hand for consultation, because the scope of the discussions have been left wide enough to include tho oath issue and its bearing on participation at Ottawa. There is undisguised anxiety in Dublin at the results of sacrificing British preferences. Indeed, falling trade and rising unemployment already reflect the erisis.

No News of Missing Aviator The aeroplane seen over Cork yesterday was not Hausner’s. No news has been received of him since his departure. “We’ll buy your dairy butter.” We will give vou the cash price—and cash dov.ii .. i the nail. We don't ask any questions about “taking it* out in goods” at Sunshine Bakery. Attractions for keen buyers at F. Thoip and Ch’s sale Football boots, from s |-,. i: shoes for men, from ; I l.v-i- ~,|f or ph<-e shoe-, fro’n ' 'Li .on Oxford ■-ho. .. 11,0