Eire And The Empire

Northern Advocate, 28 October 1948, Page 7

Eire And The Empire

WELLINGTON, Thu. (P.A.)—lt would be unfortunate if an impression were created either in New Zealand or abroad through Mr Fraser’s pi'esence at, and participation in the Prime Ministers’ conference, that New Zealand favoured the severance proposed or regarded the proposal with equanimity, or that any formula attempting to make a place for Eire within the Empire circle would find favour should she repeal the External Relations Act and become a republic, stated the public relations committee of. the Grand Orange Lodge in the course of a statement. After referring to Eire’s attitude in the world wars, the statement said Eire’s real attitude towards the Empire and its citizens was indicated by the necessity for New Zealanders going to reside there to register as aliens and report to the police any absence from home or change of address. PRESSURE ON BRITAIN The statement declared that it could not be overlooked that Mr de Valera, Mr Costello and others, had been conducting a campaign to bring pressure on the British Government to force Northern Ireland into a Dublin parliament and an Irish Republic. The present move to include Eire as a member of the Empire after she, by her deliberate act, had cut herself off from the Empire, must be linked with agitation to dissociate Northern Ireland from the Crown and Empire. “In the light of past history and of the present situation,” concludes the statement, “any attempt to assist ‘Dark Rosaleen’ to escape the consequences of her own decision to separate from the Empire or to prejudice the freedom and independence of Northern Ireland, will find little favour and small support among loyal Britishers in this Dominion.”