SITUATION IN IRELAND

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21600, 22 March 1932, Page 9

SITUATION IN IRELAND

REGARDED AS GRAVE MR DE VALERA'S CHALLENGE (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, March 21. (Received March 21, at 9 p.m.) The Dublin correspondent of The Times says: “ There will be special displays on Easter Monday in connection with the anniversary of the Rebellion in 1910. Nobody knows what will happen next, but the situation is grave. Perhaps Mr de Valera is the only man who does not recognise this, and apparently he is persuading himself that Britain will not resent repudiation of the Anglo-Irish settlement. Other Irishmen realise that Britain cannot ignore Mr de Valera’s challenge, and they await developments with profound anxiety. Many are concerned for Ireland’s honour, and all for the economic future. Mr Cosgrave and his followers are not likely to disclose their intentions before the Dail meets on April 24.

IRELAND’S MISTAKE. MORNING POST COMMENT. LONDON, March 20. Apropos of Mr Neville Chamberlain’s speech the Morning Post reminds Ireland that it is a mistake to presume too far on the yielding nature of the British people, whose concessions for the sake of peace are regarded merely as signs of weakness. “ The Statute of Westminster, as we predicted when it was foolishly passed, encourages disruptive forces. Ireland’s interest, however, lies in a free British market, which henceforth is reserved for members of the Empire. The Free State cannot have it both ways. If she repudiates her allegiance obligations Britain will show just and severe resentment. The Free State might then find to her bitter regret that being a petty republic on the skirts of Europe is a poor exchange for citizenship in the Empire.” ARMED MEN IN BELFAST. GUNS STOLEN FROM BUNGALOW. LONDON, March 20. The correspondent of The Times at Belfast says that three armed men, declaring themselves members of the 1.R.A., motored to a bungalow near Glengormly, occupied by Mr Charles Newell, an ex-sergeant-major of the Munster Fusiliers and a big-game shot, and stole five sporting guns. The raiders held Mr Newell and his wife at the revolver point while they searched the house.