BRITAIN AND EIRE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22936, 14 January 1938, Page 8

BRITAIN AND EIRE

All men of goodwill will rejoice that the heads of the British and Irish Governments have agreed to meet next week at 10 Downing Street, "to discuss outstanding questions which affect relations between the two countries." The acute differences which marked Mr. de Valera's accession to office in the Free State five years ago have been allowed to persist too long. None has benefited by the estrangement and Eire especially has been the loser by it. The lukewarm mandate that Mr. de Valera received for his Government and the new Constitution at the recent general elections must have warned him that his own people are awakening to the logic of their geographical and economic position in relation to Britain. The shadow of a pretended Republic is a cold habitation compared with the warm and secure comfort the country might enjoy as a full and working member of the British Commonwealth. The fact of complete national freedom under the British Crown is beginning to appear preferable to the theory of Republicanism joined with isolation and insecurity. So Mr. de Valera and his chief colleagues are to proceed to London to discuss such questions as defence, trade, finance and Irish partition. For her part, Britain has good reason to seek a reasonable settlement. In the matter of defence —so constant a preoccupation at present —she would prefer to secure her rear, and useful naval, military and air bases there by putting her relations with Eire on a basis of friendship .and co-operation. She possesses Treaty rights in several Irish harbours, but would find them more valuable if held by goodwill rather than by force. With defence, therefore, and also with trade and finance, there is room for and mutual advantage in reciprocal arrangements. The question of Irish partition is more difficult and will probably not yet be capable of settlement. The other matters, however, leave wide scope for useful negotiation. The way may be difficult, but the end is so attractive that it is earnestly to be hoped that some progress toward better relations may be made at next week's conference.