OTTAWA CONFERENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21666, 9 June 1932, Page 7

OTTAWA CONFERENCE

STATUS t)F FREE STATE THE DUBLIN CONVERSATION 5- ' FAVOURABLE ATMOSPHERE BRITISH MINISTERS CHEERED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON, June 7. Escorted by a carload of detectives, Mr ’Thomas and Lord Hailsham arrived at the Government offices watched by a eilent crowd, who lingered while the conference lasted. Mr Thomas and Mr de Valery had never previously come in con tact. There were moments s of hesitation when they met, and then hands were extended in cordial greetings. Mr Thomas was later host to eight of ■Mr de Valera’s Ministers at a luncheon, at the conclusion of which the crowds cheered the visitors and almost mobbed the ears. , Few people venture to predict the outcome of Friday’s discussions, but even those who despair of results emphasise that it is all for the good that Mr de Valera has abandoned his long-range defiance in favour of personal contact. Those who are well informed in Ireland predict that the Senate will easily carry the amendment. They claim to detect a distinct and apprehensive swing over of Ireland against cutting, the painter and losing the British market. They say that the Irish people are less concerned with the results of'the present conference than with how soon Mr do Valera will be forced to the country. The Senate threatened to amend the Oath Bill by making it ineffective till Britain consents to the removal of the eath. . LONDON, June 7. The Dublin conversations, which were jtontined to Mr J. H. Thomas, Lord HailMr de Valera and Mr J. Geoghegan (Minister of Justice), 'asted an hour and a-half. Mr Thomas declared; “If any statement is to be made we leave it to Mr de Valera, as we are his guests.” Lord Hailsham and Mr Thomas were smiling as they left the building and appeared to be pleased. BRITISH PRESS COMMENT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 7. The Free State High Commissioner (Mr Dulanty) and the Permanent Under- , secretary for the Dominions Office (Sir Edward Harding) > accompanied the British Ministers to Dublin for the conversations. j , ....

The atmosphere in Ireland is regarded as favourable., The Irish newspaper press, including Mr de Valera’s organ, accepted the announcement of the invitation with readiness, which suggested that they would welcome a settlement.. With the exception of the Morning Post, the London newspapers also welcome the development. The Daily Herald congratulates the Free State Government on issuing invitation and the British Government for so readily accepting it. It is emphasised generally that in undertaking the consultation the British Government in no way varied its policy. A , The Times says that there has never , been any desire on the part of the British Government to exclude Mr de „ r , Valera’s colleagues from the, Ottawa Conferenco. “ That is not its business, but the arrangements resulting from the conference must depend upon the confidence which its members repose in one another and clearly the sudden and one-sided abrogation of an. important treaty could hardly be expected to encourage a repetition of the experiment. It is probably true to say that this attitude, in which Mr Thomas has been absolutely firm and consistent, is endorsed by the whole House of Commons, and with a conviction that would be gccorded to no other i, single item in the Government’s policy. There need be no fear of his abandoning it in his discussions with Mr de Valera.” The Daily Telegraph' while emphasising: that repudiation of agreements by one party against the protest of the other and without, consultation is intolerable in itself and a bar to the negotiation of any further agreement, expresses the earnest hope that the present consulta- ' tions will have, good results. “Mr de ./Valera’s invitation,” it. adds, “is an earnest of goodwill, which has been ■ readily answered, and his willingness to continue the negotiations in London leads .to the belief that he has no doubt of the spirit in which he will be met,” The Manchester Guardian warmly welcomes Mr de Valera’s first step away •from an impossible position, and says it is only proper that everything in the power of Britain should be done to assist him. The refusal to discuss and negotiate on the oath was his. The British refusal to enter into fiscal negotiations in preparation for Ottawa was a corollary of his assertion of his right to interpret the joint instrument of the treaty as he pleased.” After to-day’s meeting the following statement was-issued: —Mr Thomas and Lord Hailsham had an hour’s conversation with the President and Minister of Justice this morning. There was a preliminary exchange of views which will be followed by a discussion in London on Friday as already arranged. THE CONFERENCE AGENDA. 1 PUBLICATION WITHHELD. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, June 7. In the House of Commons Mr Mal- • colm MacDonald (Under-Secretary for the Dominions) said it had been agreed that the agenda for the Ottawa Conference should not be published until the t>, details were settled as the result of consultations between the Governments concerned. The consultations were very advanced. NATURE OF DISCUSSIONS. ON GENERAL LINES. LONDON, June 8. (Received June 8, at 9 p.m.) The Dublin correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says that the Ministerial conference discussions were on general lines. Mr de Valera outlined his, Government’s attitude on the oath, which he described as a source of trouble in his country, ■. and he suggested its removal, while the ■ ending of partition by the incorporation of the Ulster Counties into the Free State would do much to achieve lasting Anglo-Irish peace. • ' An editorial on the negotiations in Mr de Valera’s newspaper, the “Irish . Press,” says: “The Oath Removal Bill will become law whatever efforts the Senate makes. As to the field of discussion covering the Anglo-Irish negotiations concerning the Ottawa Conference it is. the . whole- community’s duty to itrengthen the Government’s hands until

the discussion's end successfully. The whole British public will be behind their negotiators; let us stand behind ours.” Mil THOMAS HOME AGAIN. SECRECY PRESERVED. LONDON, June 8. (Received June 9, at 1.30 a.ra.) Mr Thomas sent a wireless message to Mr de Valera from the steamer thanking the Irish people for their great hospitality. On arrival at Euston Mr Thomas reserved the strictest- secrecy, and declined to refer to the negotiations, which he will discuss with Cabinet later in the morning. MR DE VALERA’S OATH POLICY. LONDON, June 7. An Australian, Senator Elliott, while in Dublin, had an hour’s interview with Mr de Valera, who revealed that the basis of his oath policy is the view that the Statute of Westminster cancels the Anglo-Irish agreement of 1921 and all other treaties, and even permits Ireland to declare herself a republic if the majority of the electors are favourable. Senator Elliott said that Mr de Valera showed the keenest anxiety regarding the Ottawa Conference and its possibilities.