IRISH REPUBLIC

Hokitika Guardian, 3 May 1937, Page 5

IRISH REPUBLIC

NEW CONSTITUTION

THE DRAFT PUBLISHED

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, May 1

The draft lias been published of the new Constitution for Ireland, It provides that thp name Irish Tree State shall be changed to Eire, a Gaelio word meaning Ireland. , The draft describes it as “a sovereign independent, democratic State with all powers corning under God from the people.”

The President who replaces the Gov-ernor-General, will he elected for seven years by universal vote. He will take precedence over all others and will sit in the Da.il or Senate.

The President will appoint a Prime Minister, who wifi ,be known as the Taoiseach (an Irish word having the significance of Duce or Fuhrer). He wilt also summon and dissolve the Dail, sign all bills and have supreme control of the defence forces. All officers will hold their commissions from him.

The right of appeal to the. King is removed by the provision that the decision of the Supreme Court is final conclusive. , The. free practice, of religion is guaranteed. Divorce,is absolutely excluded under the Constitution.

The draft ignores the British Commonwealth and does not mention the King. The electors ratification will be sought at the general election, probably late in June. The Constitution is framed for all Ireland, with provision for temporarily restricting the laws to the present Irish Free State territory. The second clause of the Constitution declares:—“The national territory consists of the whole of Ireland, its islands and its territorial seas, pending tho re-integration of the national territory, without prejudice to the right of the Parliament, and Government of Eire to exercise jurisdiction over it.

“The President of Ireland will have wide powers, but those will he for the safeguarding of the people’s rights,” declared Mr Do Valera, in a broadcast address fro m I) ub 1i a. “The new Constitution will be the free expression of the people of Ireland. It can be changed only by them. There still are many injustices to be removed, including that of the partition of our country; the British occupation of our ports; and the exaction bv Britain of money, which we hold is not due; but these issues are now outside of the Constitution, and they can bo discussed on their merits.”

ULSTER PREMIER’S VIEW.

LONDON, May 1

The “Sunday Dispatch” says: Lord Craigavon, Ulster Premier, is expected to call on Mr Baldwin shortly, in order to discuss Ulster’s viewpoint in connect! n with Mr Dc Wlora’s claim to an all-Treland Constitution. It is thought that Belfast and Britain cannot ignore Mr De Valera’s action in connection with this. It is anticipated that British law officers will consider the situations and aspects regarding the Anglo-Irish treaty.