TUMULTUOUS CELEBRATIONS. King Expresses Good Wishes

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27059, 19 April 1949, Page 5

TUMULTUOUS CELEBRATIONS.

King Expresses Good Wishes

New Zealand Press Association—Copyright Rec. 9 p.m. LONDON, Apl. 18. Tumultuous cheering rose from thousands of spectators on O’Connell Bridge, in the heart of Dublin, when a 21-gun salute at one minute past midnight brought the new State of the Republic of Ireland into being. Thousands also gathered round the City Hall at Cork for a midnight ceremony.

Earlier messages from Reuter’s Dublin correspondent said: “Republican fervour is rising throughout the 26 counties. Dublin itself is full of visitors. O’Connell street i s a slowly shuffling mass of tens of thousands of people, including many holidaymaker from Britain and America.” Large crowds assembled in the centre of Dublin at an early hour, awaiting the firing of the salute to signify the beginning of the new era. The city is decorated with flags. There will be a big military parade through Dublin to-morrow, and services of intercession at churches of all denominations for the success of the republic. Demonstrations and celebrations. including military parades, will be held to-morrow at 24 other centres, including Cork, Limerick, Galway and Athlone. The Daily Telegraph’s Dublic correspondent says that the principal shops in Dublin erected crush oarriers.

and jewellers cleared displays of valuables, lest windows be broken in the crush. Reuter’s Belfast correspondent says that strong forces of police were on duty in Newry, County Down, to-day. to enforce the Northern Ireland Government’s ban on the celebrations of proclamation of the Irish Republic. Many London Irishmen gathered in Trafalgar Square to protest against partition. In Liverpool all available police patrolled the course of two colourful processions which had been re-routed to prevent any trouble between antipartitionists and Orangemen. The police warned 500 young men who had assembled yesterday at the Northern Ireland village of Carrickmore, in County Tyrone for a football match that they could not march in a procession. The police dispersed the men with a baton charge and injured several of them as they were hoisting a Republican flag in a field.

The King sent the following message to the President, Mr Sean O’Kelly:— “ I send my sincere good wishes, being well aware of the neighbourly links which hold the people of the Republic of Ireland'in close association with my subjects of the United Kingdom. I hold in the most grateful memory the services and sacrifices of the men and women of your country who rendered gallant assistance to our cause in the recent war, and who made a notable contribution to our victories. I pray that every blessing may be with you to-day and in the future.” The King has now ceased to have any function in association with Eire. Previously he acted for it in diplomatic and consular matters.

people of India. I sincerely hope the friendship between our two countries will be maintained and even strengthened by close co-operation in the extension of democratic freedom to the peoples of the world who do not enjoy it and in the firm establishment of world peace.” The Inuian Government announced that India, and Eire will establish diplomatic relations at Ministerial level, says the Associated Press correspondent in New Delhi. The an-

The Church of Ireland announced that certain prayers will be altered, presumably those referring to the King and the Royal Family. President Truman, in a message to Mr O’Kelly on behalf of the people of the United States, said: “ Sincere good wishes for the continued welfare and prosperity of your country.” A message from Mr Attlee said: “On this significant occasion I send greetings from the British Government and people to the republic, and all good, wishes for its progress and prosperity. We have many ties of kinship and common interests, and I look forward wi4h complete confidence to the maintenance of the close and cordial friendship between our two countries.”

The South African Prime Minister, Dr D. F. Malan, in a message to Eire’s Premier, Mr J. A. Costello, welcoming the new republic/ praised British and Irish statesmanship for “ strengthening the ties of friendship.” The message added: “ South Africa is gratified that the relations of the Republic of Ireland with South Africa, as with other member States of the Commonwealth, will continue to be characterised by the special ties of understanding, friendship and goodwill which cannot but prove mutually beneficial.”

nouncement said that India’s High Commissioner in London, Ishna Menon, will also serve as Minister to Eire. The Daily Express says a Bill Is to be rushed through the British Parliament to clear up the position of Eire people who want to be citizens of the United Kingdom. Without a special Act of Parliament no Eire citizen would be eligible for certain public appointments in Britain or be able to join any British armed services. Other problems, such as the extension of Empire preference to Eire, remain. It is expected that the Commonwealth Prime Ministers’ Conference will consider the problems when it meets this week.

The Prime Minister of India, Mr Nehru, in a message, to Mr Costello, said: “On the occasion of the coming into force of the Republic of Ireland Act, 1948 r I wish to convey to the Government and people of Ireland the best wishes of the Government and