RECENT CONVERSATIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 18 June 1932, Page 7

RECENT CONVERSATIONS

STATEMENT BY MR THOMAS (British Oltlciai Wireless) RUGBY, 17th June. The trend of recent conversations in Dublin and London witli Mr de Valera and the more recent developments in connection with the differences with the Irish Freo Slate, were disclosed in an important statement in the House of Commons by Mr J. H.* Thomas. He said that when the treaty was signed no one assumed that it was the last word, but similarly no one assumed any change could be made without agreement. During the past ton years there have been consultations of major and minor importance, and there wore three formal agreements amending or supplementing the treaty following negotiations and consultations. With a change of Government in the Free State they had no rght to expert that treaties and agreements would be torn up with impunity, therefore the Government received with astonishment Mr de Valera’s intimation, which in effect stated, firstly, that the Irish Free State Government intended and were talcing the necessary steps to abolish the oatli on the grounds that it was not mandatory in the treaty; and, secondly,- that his Government intended to withhold land annuities. Mr Thomas replied on behalf of the Government courteously but firmly, intimating that this was .a position that'could not be accepted, and showed that there was no doubt that the oath was mandatory. Mr de Valera’s next despatch in effect said, ‘‘Whether it is-mandatory or not it is no longer the issue; it is purely a matter of domestic concern.” Mr Thomas said such a position was intolerable and it was necessary tlmt the British Government should leave Mr do Valera and the Irish people in no doubt whatever as to Britain’s attitude. They made it ejear they could not enter into any agreement with a Government which proposed to repudiate a. treaty. That was the position when Mr de Valera indicated his readiness for"a preliminary discussion in connection with the Ottawa Conference, and Lord Ilailsham and ho visited Dublin with a genuine desire to adjust the differences. In the Dublin conversations Mr do Valera declared his ultimate aim was to achieve lasting peace and goodwill in Ireland, first by union of the Free Stale with the six counties in Northern Ireland, and when that was accomplished Ireland should be recognised as a republic. There might be some form of association with the British commonwealth in some circumstances and for some reasons, and in that case the King should be recognised as the head of the association. Mr de Valera admitted that the last election had given him no mandate to that effect at all, but assumed that lie ultimately would roeeive such a mandate. Meanwhile lie was anxious for a modus vivendi lo overcome the present difficulty,• and Mr de Valera asserted that the British Government must agree to the abolition of the oath, and Ireland to withhold annuities, while several other financial matters must be looked into and that his attitude towards them would probably ho the same. When lie came to London Mr de Valera was told no useful purpose would he served by discussion on these lines, for no British Government would over agree to such a suggestion. FREE STATE ACCEPTS ARBITRATION Mr Thomas continued that within the last two hours a further despatch from Mr de Valera was received stating that the Free State Government had accepted the principle of the British proposal for arbitration on the land annuities.