FREE STATE MINISTER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22916, 20 December 1937, Page 12

FREE STATE MINISTER

ROME AND ABYSSINIA CHALLENGE NOT EXPECTED LONDON, Dec. 18 The diplomatic correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says the Irish Free, State communication concernine the appointment of a new Irish Minister to Rome, accredited to the King of Italy and Emperor of Abyssinia, which was sent direct to King Georee, is now before His Majesty. The correspondent adds that Mr. de Valera is presumably acting under terms of the Executive Authority (External Relations) Act, which he rushed through the Dail after King Edward's abdication. This Act cuts off the Free State from the Commonwealth except in -the matter of recognising the Kine as tho "symbol of co-operation" between the Dominions. "Britain and the British Government never expressed any opinion on # the validity of this Act,'' says the diplomatic writer of the Manchester Guardian, "but they apparently do not intend to challenge Mr. de Valera's position. ! "Tho Free State's autonomy in foreign affairs cannot be disputed and the British Government in refusing to pick a quarrel with Mr. do Valera Mas probably actuated by tho belief that recognition of Abyssinia must come in time. Therefore the Free State is not doing something fundamentally and for ever at variance with tho rest of tho Commonwealth. "Meanwhile Mr. de Valera is planning what may prove a more embarrassing move. It is understood," says the writer, "that when the new Irish Constitution operates on December 29 the High Commissioner for the Free State will cease to exist and Mr. Dulanty will then become High Commissioner for Eire or Ireland. "How "Whitehall will react to this remains to be seen. Mr. de Valera is steadily developirfg his theory that while, the King is 'divisible' Ireland is not."