NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

Hokitika Guardian, 17 October 1932, Page 5

NEGOTIATIONS FAIL

IRISH ANNUITIES CONVERSATIONS IN LONDON. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.,) RUGBY, October 14. Negotiations between the British and Irish' Free State Governments opened at the office of the Cabinet .Secretariat. The British Government .was represented by Mr J. H. Thomas and other Ministers, 'and the Free State’s principal delegate was Mr de Valera. The discussions lasted throughout the day and will be resumed to-morrow morning. BELFAST, October 14. Mr Tom Mann, the well-known British Labour organiser, arrived to attend the funeral of Samuel Baxter, who was killed in the rioting. The police then took charge of Mr Mann and escorted him to a boat on which he was deported 15 hours after he arrived. The Trades Unions have accepted the revised relief measures. They have therefore cancelled the strike.

The negotiations regarding the coil tinuance of the payment by the Irish Free State of annuities to Britain (.totalling nearly £5,000,000 per annum) have failed. The negotiations were conducted in London between Mr J, H. Thomas, with his colleagues and Mr tamonn de Valera (President of th* Free State Executive Council.) On Tuesday, Mr Thomas will make a statement on the matter in the House of Commons.

REASONS FOR THE FAILURE. GIVEN BY MR DE VALERA. LONDON, October 16. A "Sydney Sun” message states:— The breakdown of the Anglo-Irish negotiations singularly lacked drama. Mr de Valera advanced no new arguments beyond asserting that the Irish Treaty entitled the Irish Free State to share Britain’s assets, despite any cancellation of liabilities. Recourse to fhe original proposal for arbitration also failed because Mr de Valera, maintained his. previous attitude.

Mr de Valera was never optimistic about the outcome of the negotiations. He considers that he is not responsible for their failure, in view of what he regards as Mr J. H. Th6mas’s negative attitude. The Free State delegates proceeded by taxi to their hotel, after Mr Thomas had said good-bye through the window oi 1 their vehicle. They have booked return passages for Sunday. Mr de Valera declined to discuss the breakdown until he makes a statement in the Bail F.ireann.

NO SURPRISE AT BREAKDOWN, TALK OF AN EARLY ELECTION, (Received this day at 9.2-" a.ml LONDON, Oct. 16. Tt appears that Mr de Valera advanced a fantastic counter claim for overtaxation. The amount stated by the ‘“Observer ” is at least £250,000,000. The British representatives held that the Free State was bound, both in law and honour, and whatever Government was in power, t-o pay the sums in disTbe breakdown caused no surprise in political quarters. The Irish Labour Party conference at Dublin passed a resolution calling for the abolition of the office of Governor-General The “Sunday Express” asked Mr de Valera after the conference to define his intentions with regard to the future relations cf the Free State with the Empire. Mr de Valera said that his ideal was an independent republican State, if possible, within the Empire Mr Cosgrove, when informed of the result, said: —“It is had news for both countries.”

Questions are being asked what will Mr de Valera’s next move? Thoro is talk here and in Dublin of the possibility of an early election in the Free State, to he fought on the question of secession. There woftld he no surprise if a sensational announcement were to be made in the Dail on Wednesday.