FUTURE OF IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19260, 26 August 1924, Page 7

FUTURE OF IRELAND

A REPUBLICAN SPOKESMAN. DE YALERA’S OFFER TO ULSTER. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, August 24. Replying to an address from his constituents m Dundalk, Mr de Valera said that he never spent a happier time than when he was in prison, because ho was conscious that he had done right and that his cause would eventually triumph. He refused to sit in the Ulster Parliament or in the Hail Eireann because they were partition Parliaments. A Republican Government would be willing to give Ulster a Parliament with such autonomy as was consistent with the unity of the Irish' State. He was certain that the signatories to the treaty on both sides had intended that there should bo a transference of areas. Mr de Valera expressed tbo hope that when they were confronted with thoso problems again in a year or two the Irish people would not bn ready to buy a fallacious peace. Every Irishman detested Imperialism, and the Irish did not wish in their turn to dominate or exploit the people of Canada, Australia, new Zealand, or South Africa. Referring to the 1921 negotiations, he said that political association with the people of Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, towards whom they had no feelings of hostility, was in nowise repugnant to them : but Irishmen did not want to become involved in Imperialistic wars.—Reuter. THE BOUNDARY DISPUTE. PLEDGES TO ULSTER. LONDON, August 24. The Marquess of Londonderry (Minister of Education in the Government of Northern Ireland), speaking at Stockton, said that Sir James Craig was ready now, ps always, to discuss with Mr Cosgrave the rectification of the boundary on a basis of mutual give and take. Sir Robert Horne said that Ulster w r as being coerced, notwithstanding repeated pledges by Mr Asquith, Mr Lloyd George, Mr Bonar Law, and Mr Baldwin, and the present position might create a situation which could easily end in civil war. After these they could appreciate the Unwillingness on the part of Ulster to take the risk of sending a representative to a Commission the judgment of which Ulster would be bound to accept if she took part in the Commission.—A. and N.Z. Cable. INTENTION OF THE TREATY. REPLY TO MR DUGGAN. LONDON, August 24. (Received August 25, at 8 p.m.) The Ulster Association, replying to Mr E. J. Duggan, says ho has overlooked the basic fact that the 1920 Act laid down the extent of the Northern territory and therefore, Ulster is not concerned with discussions affecting the 26 counties. Furthermore, Mr Lloyd George pledged that Ulster’s rights would not be compromised.—A. and N.Z. Cable. Mr E. J. Duggan, one of the signatories of the Anglo-Irish Treaty and Parliamentary Secretary to the Free State Council, referring a few days ago to the assertion that Northern Ireland was not consulted in the treaty settlement, emphasised that when the treaty negotiations were in progress the Irish plenipotentiaries claimed all Ireland as the proper unit of government, but they were compelled to recognise the fact of the existence of a section of “our people" who disagreed, at present at any rate, with the aims of the majority. The British and Irish' plenipotentiaries at first endeavoured to work out a scheme lor the unification of Ireland, involving the continuance of local self-government in the north-east. The representatives of Northern Ireland, however, refused point blank to enter into discussions unless the proposal was withdrawn. -“When it is said that Norhem Ireland was not consulted," continued Mr Duggan, ‘it should be remembered that this was mainly due to its refusal even to consider the possible lines of a settlement. It was clearly understood that the purposes of tbo Commission were not merely to rectify an inconvenient border, but to prevent the infliction of injustice on people desiring to remain in the Free State. The Irish signatories held and expressed this view from the first. Moreover, the same inter--1 pretation was plainly put forward by Lord Birkenhead and Mr Lloyd George,