UNITED IRELAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23135, 6 September 1938, Page 11

UNITED IRELAND

IMPORTANCE STRESSED THE PARTITION PROBLEM "SOLUTION DESIRABLE" INTERESTS OF EMPIRE By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received Sopteniber 5, a 0.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, Sept. 5

During a discussion on the status of Ireland in the Empire at to-day's session of the British Commonwealth Relations Conference, it was stated frankly that whatever the Eire Government may have said hitherto, she would be with Britain in the event of war. It was pointed out that Eire was a great spiritual Empire with its peoples in all parts of the world, and was yearning to be on the side of the British Commonwealth.

Speakers made it clear that Irish opinion was as strongly opposed to dictatorships as was British opinion. One delegate said Eire was now a satisfied Power, except for the question of partition, and delegates generally agreed that a solution of the partition problem was desirable in the interests of the British Commonwealth. The conference listened with keen interest to a discussion on Australian problems, including the white Australia policy, migration and the mandated territories.

Mr. James Dillon, deputy-leader of the Cosgrave party in the Eire Parliament, in a broadcast address to-night, said an endeavour was being made in Ireland to-day to forget appeals to passion and prejudice and to substitute for them political argument addressed to people's reason rather than to their emotions..

Ireland had happily settled her outstanding differenes with Britain, said Mr. Dillon, but there remained the problem of a united Ireland, which, if brought about, would be a great force for liberty and decency in the world. Mr. Dillon added that there were no class distinctions in Ireland, and the first chargo on the national income was a minimum livelihood for every citizen. Machinery to give effect to this ideal was at present in tho making. A message was read at the conference from tho King acknowledging the conference's message of loyalty and expressing His Majesty's best wishes for its success in dealing with common problems affecting the Empire.