Ireland and the Oath

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6833, 14 April 1932, Page 7

Ireland and the Oath

Public Opinion Against De Valera OATI-I A LINE OF EMPIRE British Official Wireless. RUGBY, April 12. Although the Irish Free State Executive Council meets to-morrow, a Dublin message says that it is unlikely that the reply of tho Dominions Secretary (Mr. J. H. Thomas) to Mr. dc Valera’s dispatch on tho Oath and land annuities controversy will bo examined before Friday.

According to the Dublin correspondent of tho Times, tho friendly tone of the British Government’s note and its freedom from any kind of threat has been welcomed by Irish Free State citizens. Tho correspondent descries many Frco State people as surprised that the Oath, which Mr. de Valera and his followers in tho Free Stato Parliament have themselves taken, describing it in so doing as an "empty formula,” should be treated as the occasion to piccipitate a dispute. In no quarter of the British press is any sympathy or approval found for Mr. de Valera’s action.

The Star (Liberal) this evening says: "Ireland now is no longer an appanage of England, but a member of tho Commonwealth of Nations. Tho old position lives only in the memory of thole who cannot adjust their minds to facts. The only tiling, in fact, which binds the Commonwealth together is allegianco to the Crown. Mr. de Valera is writing to the wrong address. Ho thinks he is trying to break the link with England; he is, in fact, threatening to break the bonds of Empire which bind Irishmen in Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand to Ireland.’’

The Evening News refers to the alrcadv expressed concern of Australia, New" Zealand and South Africa at the possible consequences of Mr. dc Valera’s meditated action, and says that he will probably be further reminded by them that the Free State helped to frame the Statute of Westminster, in which it is laid down that the “Crown is the symbol of the free association of members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, and they arc united by common allegiance to the Crown.”

The News adds that all over the Empire the hope will be that Ireland, which has accepted the invitation to the Imperial Conference at Ottawa, will not go there witli the intention of tearing itself out of the family and so becoming no longer entitled to the many and growing boons which membership of the British Commonwealth confers.