MR DE VALERA’S DREAM

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21598, 19 March 1932, Page 11

MR DE VALERA’S DREAM

ABOLITION OF THE OATH DISILLUSIONMENT AHEAD (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 17. (Received March 18, at 10 p.m.) The Dublin correspondent of The Times expresses the opinion that Mr de Valera’s statement of March 10 is likely to lead to grave consequences. Eyes are now turned on England, where it is expected that official and unofficial opinion will speedily declare itself, dispelling Mr de Valeras illusion that the oath is merely a domestic concern and annuities can be withheld with impunity. Mr Cosgrave and the other leaders refuse to make any comment. The Irish Times, the only other newspaper that has referred to Mr de Valera’s programme, declares: “It threatens the Free State’s welfare and her very existence. Britain will certainly recover her lost annuities by duties th.at will kill the Irish cattle trade. It' also leads to the practical certainty that the Free State will be excluded from the Ottawa Conference, losing the benefits of preference, and ultimately it may banish her from the Empire. Nevertheless, Mr de Valera, although he sidetracked the Dail for a month, cannot evade the final reckonings. Owing to Labours support of the treaty it is most improbable that the Dail will connive at proposals ruining both the treaty and the Free State.”—Times Cable.

Suspension of the Public Safety Act by executive action at the next meeting of the Executive Council was announced by Mr de Valera in an interview. He added that with the impending removal of the oath the Irish Republican Army would have no reason for existence. He had not thought that the Irish Republican army was illegal; at least it was at present not engaged in illegal action. The oath was purely a domestic matter, and did not call for any reference from Britain. He did not intend to make another payment of land annuities, and the onus of presenting a case in this direction rested with Britain. The annuities would go to the State farmers. The Government intended to claim restoration of the annuities paid, totalling £30,000,000. He hoped that the unnatural boundaries between the north and the south would be broken down, and that Ireland would become united.

MR CHURCHILL’S VIEWS. LONDON, March 18. (Received March 18, at 11.50 p.m.) Mr Winston Churchill, who was interviewed on his return from his American lecturing tour, said he gravely viewed the Irish Free State’s intention to abolish the oath and cease payment of land annuities. It was impossible, and Britain could not lend the slightest countenance to such violation of a solemn agreement between the British and Irish peoples. He added that if Mr de Valera and his Government repudiated the treaty they would repudiate the title deeds of the Free State, which would become an anomalous body without status at all, cither in or out of the Empire.