BRITAIN AND EIRE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 14 January 1938, Page 5

BRITAIN AND EIRE

TALKS IN LONDON FAVOURABLE PRESS COMMENT [United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright] LONDON, 12th January. It is believed that Mr de Valera will raise the question of defence at an early stage at the meeting between representatives of the Government of Eire (Irish Free State) and the Government of the United Kingdom. As regards trade, there is at present only a coal and cattle pact between Eire and the United Kingdom which is renewable yearly and has been under discussion for the past fortnight. There will be no agenda It will be open to either side to raise any topic. It is recalled in reference to defence that Britain has no need to fear that Ireland will aver permit an enemy to use her territory as a base for an attack on the United Kingdom. “If we had control of every part of this island ourselves the combined strength of the two peoples would be used to prevent any outside Power obtaining a footing here.” it has been stated.

Under the Anglo-Irish Treaty the Free State was to have established its own navy, like the other Dominions, and pending its construction conferences were to be held in reference to Irish coastal defence, but no navy has been built and only one conference he^l. The Press generally welcomes the conference and expresses the hope that good may result.

The “Daily Mail” says: “The visit to be made by Mr de Valera and other Ministers to Downing Street on Monday is unexpected but very welcome. Both Governments are to be congratulated on the practical steps they are taking.”

The “Daily Herald” says that economic war has been dragging on so long that many people must have forgotten its existence. Yet it has been kept up not because anybody wants it but because good will and good sense have been blocked by old memories and old prides. * ANNOUNCEMENT IN DAIL LONDON, 12th January. After rising in the Dail, Mr de Valera issued a statement without comment in similar terms to the Dominions Office announcement. It was received with cheers from the Opposition and Labour benches. He afterward told journalists that the new Constitution would not be discussed at the conference, but partition certainly would be.

The Rt. Hon. James Andrews, P.C. Acting-Prime Minister for Northern Ireland, said: “I am confident that the British Government will not let us down. We are not worried.”