BRITAIN AND EIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 13 January 1938, Page 8

BRITAIN AND EIRE

CONFERENCE NEXT WEEK OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS TO BE DISCUSSED [United l»m« Association-By Electric Te 1 egra p L—Copy r j gh t ] (Received ,13th January, 1.30 p.m.) LONDON. This Day. The Dominions Office announces that "arreingements have been' made lor a meeting between the representatives of the Government of Eire (Irish Free State) and the Government of the United Kingdom to discuss outstanding questions which affect, relations between the two countries. Mr de Valera and some of his colleagues will meet Mr Neville Chamberlain. Prime Minister, and some of his colleagues at No. 10 Downing Street on the afternoon of 17th January. *

It is officially stated that the delegations will consist: For Eire. Mr de Valera, Sean F Lemass (Minister tff Industry and Commerce). Scan MacEntee (Minister of Finance), and Mr James Ryan (Minister of Agriculture).

For the United Kingdom: Mr Neville Chamberlain, Sir Samuel Hoare and Mr Malco'm MacDonald. Other Britisn Ministers will attend as required, for instance Sir Thomas Inskip (for Defence). and Mr Oliver Stanley (Board of Trade).

The conversations arise from informal tain: between Mi - McDonald and M r dc Valera in London and Geneva, and will be purely preliminary. It is probable that if a satisfactory start is made on Monday the discussions will continue during the week. In the meantime it is impossible to say what course the conversations will take, whether they will lead to a formal or informal agreement or any agreement at all The outstanding questions are defence, trade and finance.