IRELAND’S AIMS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 98, 9 April 1934, Page 7

IRELAND’S AIMS

REAL INDEPENDENCE PARAMOUNT QUESTION Relations With Other States MR. de VALERA’S HOPES 'By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received 9, 11.55 a.m.) LONDON, April 8. Mr. de Valera, in a special interview with the “Sun-Herald” service, disclosed the aims and future relationships of the Tree State with the other members of the British Commonwealth. The interviewer asked: What could the Dominions expect would be his Government’s attitude towards relationships, say, wi Australia on the attainment of the objective of complete Irish independence? Mr. de Valera replied: “I am sincerely and genuinely anxious to secure good relationships with all the States of the British Commonwealth. There is much in common to draw us together in a free association. Ties of kindred and common interests merit recognition. ‘‘All this, nevertheless, is secondary. Our paramount aim is ob obtain real independence. Our people have struggled for this for over seven centuries and will got rest until they are successful. If we are not allowed independence without completely severing relations with the countries of the Commonwealth, then we are prepared for that. ‘‘Australians and Canadians find difficulty in understanding our attitude because their past relationships with Britain are different from ours. Canada and Australia are prepared to regard Britain as the mother country, but to us Britain has been an invader, who centuries ago robbed us of national sovereignty and has since resisted efforts to regain it. "We are not bound to Britain by any ties of filial regard. We regard ourselves as much a mother country as is Britain. That is proved by the multitude of Irishmen not only in the United States but also in Australia and Canada. The fact that so many Irishmen have settled in the States of the British Commonwealth is one of my reasons for believing that once our independence is accepted a practical scheme for association and co-operation in matters of common interest, obviously ineluding trade and defence, eonld be worked out.”