IRELAND AT OTTAWA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 8

IRELAND AT OTTAWA

Although Lord Hailsham has denied that the Canadian Prime Minister has offered to mediate between the Irish Free State and Great Britain, it is not surprising that such a suggestion has been made. Direct mediation is doubtless impracticable, as Lord Hailsham says, for Mr. de Valera's dream of an independent Ireland with Ulster included is incapable of realisation. Ulster hag made that very clear. Nevertheless, the presence at Ottawa of a Iree State delegation, participating in the general business and represented on the committees, makes inevitable some reference there to the taiiff war between the Free State and Britain. It is not a matter of no moment to the rest of the Dominions. Most of them have already expressed their disapproval of the attitude of the Free State, -and it must strike them all as incongruous that Mr. de Valera, while so implacably bent on severing the tie with the Homeland, should send a delegation to an Empire assembly called to cement the trade bonds of Imperial union. The temper find methods of the fight waged by the Free State are utterly alien to" the spirit of the conference. Except for the Free State, the invitation to attend has been accepted in a spirit of loyalty to the Empire, and the declared intention is to perfect the reciprocal economic relationship. The other Dominions assume the value and vitality of what the Free State Government openly despises, and its delegation must feel out of its element. Yet, unless the extreme step be taken of telling the delegation that it has no business to be there at all, a step theoretically difficult in view of the fact that the Free State is as yet an integral part of the Empire, there

must be discussion of the position in some way, even if it result in the Irish delegation's returning emptyhanded. The other Dominions will have reason to deny concessions to the Free State so long as its Government pursues its present course. To do otherwise would be to stultify themselves as partners in the Empire as a going concern. Naturally, therefore, even though mediation be not so much as mentioned, there will be silent assertion of their disapproval of the stand the Free State has taken ; and it may happen that, away from Dublin, the Irish delegation will realise the futility of commercial hopes that exclude Great Britain but look to the development of trade with the distant Dominions. By this means, without direct mediation, a salutary influence on the Free State may be exerted.